Knowlege workers and their scope

1. By Traya Roy Chowdhury

2. Introduction
Companies struggle with the
mgmt of knowledge workers.
Why these companies struggle
with what is to be their most
productive asset?
Its important for companies to
know difference b/w knowledge
and manual workers.

3. Who are knowledge workers?
Coined by Peter Drucker.
Their main capital is knowledge.
They are not only important but also dominant
There work is basically non routine type.
They have a problem solving approach.

4. They don’t create or manufacture products.
They are a part of decision factory.
They are engaged in production process.
They also generate rework.
How knowledge workers make a difference.

6. The Decision Factory
The two important tools :
i) work structure
ii) ability to use experience
 A mismatch may lead to inefficiencies.
Problems

7. The work structure of the decision factory
They follow the product factory model
The basic unit of labour is the job.
 Out put is predictable.
 The jobs are based on assumption.
Knowledge work doesn’t comprise of routine daily tasks.

8. Productivity a Challenge
Knowledge workers experience a big swing in intensity
of decision making.
At sometime they seem to have no work in the
organization.
Binge and purge cycles are the unfortunate consequence.

9. Knowledge Algorithm
A formula for guaranteed success.
Knowledge tends to be at heuristic level.
Experienced knowledge workers resist passing down.
And the problems.

10. Redefing the job roles
A project-based approach is required.
Organize workers around full time projects.
 It is important to channel the resources flexibly.
Full time employees can be used as per their
capabilities.

11. How P&G have made it big.
The decision factories have become a a corporate here.
P&G carried out a major operational reorganization.
A feature of this was the creation of Global Business
Services (GBS).
Under GBS, P&G did the largest outsourcing deal in
the corporate history.
It has defined what percent of workforce to be
permanent and what should be in flow to work jobs.

12. Conclusion
 A company with 100% flat jobs
is obsolete.
 Knowledge workers should be
used significantly.
 Companies can do more to push
boundaries of knowledge
codification.

13. Thank you.