>If it was literally true that you can't manage knowledge workers the
>prospects for our civilization would be grim indeed; knowledge
>organizations that are unmangeable, a knowledge society that is
>ungovernable.
Knowledge work can be managed quite successfully. It does not follow,
therefore, that an inability to manage knowledge workers leads to grim
prospects such as unmanageable organizations and an ungovernable society.
>I hope that what is being said is that knowledge workers can't be managed
>in the classic chain of command modes, but require management styles
>grounded in respect and dialog.
I was plainly saying that it is impractical and, in some cases, impossible
to manage knowledge workers in the chain-of-command mode. That mode
hinges on obtaining compliance in relation to orders issued or to
prefigured work routines. Knowledge work is more often than not made up
of responses to the situation at hand. Of necessity, these are
configured, not prefigured.
The aim of management, in relation to knowledge workers, is to elicit
contributions, not ensure compliance. Thus, although I didn't say it, I
would agree that managers whose styles are grounded in respect and dialog
are likely to be more successful than Simon Legree types. However, this
is true for all workers, not just knowledge workers.
Regards,
Fred Nickols
The Distance Consulting Company
nickols@worldnet.att.net
http://home.att.net/~nickols/distance.htm
"The Internet offers the best graduate-level education
to be found anywhere."
--Fred Nickols <nickols@worldnet.att.net>
Learning-org -- Hosted by Rick Karash <rkarash@karash.com> Public Dialog on Learning Organizations -- <http://www.learning-org.com>