Defining Knowledge Work: A Cross Cultural Study

Defining Knowledge Work: A Cross Cultural Study: "Defining Knowledge Work Defining Knowledge Work: A British and Hispanic Cross-Cultural Study University of York ITBML Project Jennifer Waiming Yau, Mar 2003 Abstract Knowledge has become a marketable commodity in the business world. The post-industrial era has arrived, which many have termed the 'Knowledge Age'. A new form of work has been recognised, knowledge work, causing a flurry of interest into its meaning, importance and implications. Knowledge work is seen as imperative to business success and survival, yet given its immense importance it is little understood and poorly defined. This report investigates the key characteristics of knowledge work that ought to be included in any definition of the term. Globalisation and multicultural and virtual teams have all meant that businesses today operate in diverse environments and, therefore, must be sensitive to cultural issues and how these affect knowledge work. Knowledge work will be investigated in different cultural contexts to determine if it is culturally defined, and how cultural factors can affect definitions of knowledge work. Results show that knowledge work is not culturally defined."

pdf full study:
http://www-users.cs.york.ac.uk/~kimble/teaching/students/Jennifer_Yau/Defining_Knowledge_Work.pdf