Knowledge at Work

"In this book the authors bridge a gap in the economic literature with a fresh and lively account of the crucial links among workers, knowledge work, and economic performance. Given the multi-dimensional character of the topic, they do not provide all the answers but they pose questions and guide the reader forward. This book sets the agenda on the knowledge-based economy and the complex relations that drive it." Michael Best, University of Massachusetts Lowell "This book provides an extraordinary integration of literature on knowledge work, accompanied by a large number of cases and stories to illustrate underlying ideas. I can think of no book that offers such a stimulating and thought-provoking blend of theory and practice. Both present and future managers will greatly enjoy this book." Lars Lindkvist, Linkoeping University "Both scholarly and streetwise, this book does a great job in showing what knowledge work means for the lives of the people who do it, and the performance of the organizations that try to manage it." Harry Scarborough, University of Warwick "A very impressive account of 'knowledge at work' on several levels of analysis: individual, organization, industry, and community; that successfully connects with managerial practice" Joerg Sydow, Free University of Berlin "This book provides unique insights into the drivers behind the knowledge economy, showing how individuals, groups, organizations and industries create and use knowledge. It provides an important and highly readable contribution to contemporary understanding of knowledge and learning processes." David Gann, Imperial College London "For those of us wilting under the weight of new publications on knowledge and knowledge management this book provides a welcome refuge in what is a busy, crowded and often confusing zone. Not only does it provide a broad ranging and thorough review of the key issues, but it also challenges the reader to reflect on them chapter by chapter. The book recognises what too many others don't that all the company procedures and IT-based knowledge management systems are just tools and that people are at the centre of the knowledge based economy. The strength of the book lies in its grounding in real work examples and in its consistent use of a framework - the knowledge diamond - which highlights the interdependencies of four key participants in knowledge work: individuals, communities, organizations and industries. It should be useful to both knowledge workers themselves and those that study them." Dr Tim Brady, University of Brighton

Robert DeFillippi is Professor of Management and Director of the Center for Innovation and Change Leadership at Suffolk University, Boston. Michael B. Arthur is Professor of Management at Suffolk University, Boston. Valerie J. Lindsay is Associate Professor in International Business at Victoria University, Wellington, New Zealand.

Preface. 1. Knowledge Workers and Knowledge Work. Knowledge Work in the Global Economy. What Do Knowledge Workers Do?. Explicit and Tacit Knowledge. Who Owns the Knowledge?. Knowing and Learning. The Interplay of Knowing and Learning. Knowledge Work as Practice. Communication between Practices. Tools for Knowledge Work. Clossed versus Open Perspectives. Participants in Knowledge Work. The Individual. The Community. The Organization. The Industry. The Knowledge Diamond. The Chapters to Follow. Questions for Reflection. 2. Individual Knowledge at Work. Three Ways of Knowing. Knowing-why. Knowing-how. Knowing-whom. Interdependence among the Ways of Knowing. The Individual and the Knowledge Diamond. One Individual and Another. The Individual and the Community. The Individual and the Organization. The Individual and the Industry. Keeping the Individual in View. Other Ways of Knowing?. Free Agency and Trust. Networks and Social Capital. Tools for Individuals. Summary. Questions for Reflection. 3. Community Knowledge at Work. Three Dimensions of Community Activity. Joint Enterprise. Shared Repertoire. Mutual Engagement. Interdependence among the Dimensions. The Community and the Knowledge Diamond. One Community and Another. The Community and the Organization. The Community and the Industry. The Community and the Individual. Keeping the Community in View. Other Meanings of Community. Organizational Communities. Occupational Communities. Community Social Capital. The Returns on Community Social Capital. Community and Inter-Community Knowledge Work. Tools for Communities. Summary. Questions for Reflection. 4. Organizational Knowledge at Work. The Organization's Core Competencies. Organizational Culture. Organizational Capabilities. Organizational Connections. Interdependencies Among the Core Competencies. The Organization and the Knowledge Diamond. One Organization and Another. The Organization and the Individual. The Organization and the Community. The Organization and the Industry. Keeping the Organization in View. Knowledge Transfer in Strategic Alliances. Exploitation versus Exploration. Codification versus Personalization. Closed versus Open Innovation. Tools for Organizations. Summary. Questions for Reflection. 5. Industry Knowledge at Work. Three Attributes of Industry Activity. Industry Milieu. Industry Recipes. Industry System. Interdependence among Industry Attributes. The Industry and the Knowledge Diamond. One Industry and another. The Industry and the individual. The Industry and the community. The Industry and the organization. Keeping the Industry in View. Industry Regions and Regional Advantage. Regional Closure and Brokerage. Knowledge Transfer between Industries. Business Ecosystems. Tools for Industries. Summary. Questions for Reflection. 6. Projects and Knowledge Work. The Evolution of Project-Based Knowledge. Variation: The Beginnings of Exploration. Selection: Between Exploration and Exploitation. Retention: The shift to exploitation. Projects As Episodes in Knowledge Work. Contrasting Project-based Learning Experiences. Low Performance, Low Learning. High Performance, Low Learning. Low Performance, High Learning. High Performance, High Learning. Learning Landscapes and their Beneficiaries. Organizations and Project Organizing. Projects, Practice and "Boundary Objects". Tools for Project Work. Summary. Questions for Reflection. 7. Virtual Knowledge Work. Virtual versus Physical Space. Properties of Virtual Communications. Brokerage and Closure in Virtual Work. Managing Virtual Projects. Working with a Distant Subsidiary. Working on a Complex Project. Selecting Communications Media. Facilitating Cross-Disciplinary Teams. Open Source Software Communities. Grid Compu