Knowledge Worker Work The knowinglearningdoing nexus

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Knowledge Worker Work The knowing-learning-doi
ng nexus

• Dr Kate Andrews
• Partner, Intellectual Capital
• BDO Kendalls
• kandrews_at_bdokendalls.com.au

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Overview

• The Project Methodology
• Insights
• The knowing-learning-doing nexus implications

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Project Methodology
Knowledge Worker Interviews
Review of Knowledge Literature
ANTA-funded research 2003 New Models for PD that
take into account how knowledge workers maintain
and upgrade their skills
Discussion Paper Capabilities for the Knowledge
Era Assumptions and Key Questions
Commissioned Thought Pieces
Expert 1
Expert 2
Expert 3
Expert4
Discussion Paper Models for PD in the Knowledge
Era
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Literature Review

• Distinguishing characteristics of the knowledge
  era
• Knowledge as a strategic variable
• Time span of discretion
• Complex relationships
• Pervasive ICT

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Literature Review

• Knowledge Worker Capabilities
• Problem-solving and sense-making
• Pattern recognition to manage information
  overload
• Productive, creative and committed to learning
• Flexibility and tolerance for ambiguity

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Knowledge Worker Interviews

• Knowledge Worker Capabilities
• Think deeply about their work and organisation in
  the broadest context
• Scavenge for development opportunities
  hyper-vigilant
• Work with ambiguity and clarity each is
  appropriate

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Knowledge Worker Interviews

• Maintaining and developing capability
• Self-motivated learning
• Exposure to new ideas
• Learning by doing
• Networking
• Challenge
• Consolidation of learning

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Thought Piece Prompts

•   The purpose of your paper is to describe
  groundbreaking approaches to professional
  development in the knowledge era.
• Context How will the world of knowledge be
  different in 2013?
• Based on your theoretical perspective, present
  your two or three challenging / groundbreaking
  ideas for professional development of knowledge
  workers in 2013

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Thought Piece - Poell

• Put learning explicitly on the agendas of
  organisations and individual knowledge workers
• Improving the knowledge workers learning
  repertoire
• Improving the knowledge workers learning
  environment

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Thought Piece - Sveiby

• Management of knowledge workers and their
  knowledge is very poor
• HRs contribution to knowledge worker development
  needs to be strengthened
• Desperate need for physical spaces that promote
  knowledge flows

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Thought Piece - Woog

• Knowledge is emergent rather than constructed
• Insight, intuition and improvisation
• Value insightful knowledge
• Importance of communicative understanding
• Others need to understand the patterns
• Relationships as the critical factor
• Design a richer learning environment

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Thought Piece Granville

• Focus on knowing the activity of knowing
• Conversations establish shared meanings
• Generosity and trust
• Knowledge workers as designers producing
  something new

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The Essence of Knowledge Work

• Knowledge work is a new way of knowing
• Outcomes are emergent expressions of originality
  supported by contextual understanding
• Knowledge workers are designers, working with
  complexity, imprecision, ambiguity and potential
  conflict

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Implications for Managing

• Knowledge worker PD is multi-faceted and the
  integration of working and learning is
  definitional
• Active learning and relationships
• Challenge, novelty and conversations
• Catalysts for intrinsic motivation

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Full Papers

• Working and Learning in Vocational Education and
  Training in the Knowledge Era
• Review of selected knowledge-focussed literature
• Capabilities for the knowledge era
• Contemporary models for professional development
  in the knowledge era
• Thought pieces responding to key prompts
• Robert Poell (systems thinking) Karl-Erik Sveiby
  (knowledge management) Robert Woog (chaos and
  complexity) Ranulph Glanville (learning systems)
• All at http//www.flexiblelearning.net.au/projects
  /pdfuture.htmreport

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Related Article

• Whicker, L.M. Andrews, K.M. (2004). Human
  Resource Management in the knowledge economy.
  Asia-Pacific Journal of Human Resources 42, 2,
  156 - 165