Knowledge Workers and Knowledge Work

Knowledge workers, which we introduced in Chapter 1, include researchers, designers, architects, scientists, and engineers who primarily create knowl­edge and information for the organization. Knowledge workers usually have high levels of education and memberships in professional organizations and are often asked to exercise independent judgment as a routine aspect of their work. For example, knowledge workers create new products or find ways of improving existing ones. Knowledge workers perform three key roles that are critical to the organization and to the managers who work within the organization:

• Keeping the organization current in knowledge as it develops in the external world—in technology, science, social thought, and the arts
• Serving as internal consultants regarding the areas of their knowledge, the changes taking place, and opportunities
• Acting as change agents, evaluating, initiating, and promoting change projects

Source: Laudon Kenneth C., Laudon Jane Price (2020), Management Information Systems: Managing the Digital Firm, Pearson; 16^th edition.