We need to remember ...how big a part of our working life we spend learning particular jobs, and how valuable an asset in all walks of life is knowledge of people, of local conditions, and of special circumstances. Frederich A. Hayek, 1945It is commonplace in today's business world that the stock price of companies largely reflects intellectual assets, rather than physical assets. Companies and workers in knowledge-intensive industries, where intellectual assets are a key driver of competitive advantage, have higher economic value.Recent advances in intellectual property governance and knowledge management have facilitated the sharing of knowledge and creative collaborations amongst globally dispersed knowledge workers.Yet the sources of organizational knowledge are often ill-defined. Students, policy makers and scholars-educators will find in this book a captivating and richly-illustrated analysis of where knowledge is found and how it translates into economic value. From the individual building his or her career, to the wider networks of community and industry: the authors show how knowledge is developed and utilized for competitive advantage in a global economy.Case examples throughout each chapter shape our understanding of different types of knowledge and their diverse settings. The many lively cases include: Linux open-source software developers; a community of forensic accountants; the role of industry knowledge in London advertising agencies, and in Richard Branson's Virgin Atlantic; project management at Ericsson Telecommunications; global knowledge and learning at Nokia, Acer and ABN AMRO; business-unit entrepreneurship in the development of flat-panel TVs, and the making ofthe Lord of the Rings movie trilogy. There are over 30 case examples throughout the book, each illustrating a different aspect of knowledge generation, transfer or utilization.The cases, frameworks and chapter summaries make this an indispensable guide to the 'Why? How? and Who?' of knowledge work. Readers interested in any or all of globalization, e-commerce, entrepreneurship, innovation, and capability management will gain fresh understanding of 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, Linköping 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

This book focuses on the processes through which knowledge is created, accumulated and put to use in the knowledge-driven global economy. Its unique perspective stems from its “knowledge diamond” framework to examine how individuals, communities, organizations and host industries reciprocally influence each other in the course of knowledge work. Case examples are selected to appeal to an international audience.

The book also covers the key topics of project-based, virtual, and global knowledge work and intellectual property. It emphasizes the practices and tools – both behavioral and information technology – through which participants exchange knowledge and generate new learning. Each chapter concludes with summary questions that can be the basis for the reader’s personal reflection, or for discussion among classroom or management development audiences.

This book's unique perspective stems from its “knowledge diamond” framework to examine how individuals, communities, organizations and host industries reciprocally influence each other in the course of knowledge work.

• This highly topical book focuses on work-based projects as a focus for organizational learning.

• Establishes the link between individual, community, organization and industry learning.

• Suggests that organizations need to recognise and understand this link if they are to capitalize on project-based learning.

• Incorporates material on project-based learning in virtual communities.

• Refers to different examples, such as the film industry, the software industry and the boat building industry.

• Includes end-of-chapter questions provoking reflection and discussion.

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 Computing.

From e-Business to Virtual Product Testing.

Tools for Virtual Work.

Summary.

Questions for Reflection.

8. Global Knowledge and Learning.

The Global Organization.

Harnessing and exploiting local knowledge.

Acting Locally, Thinking Globally.

Born Global through International Alliances.

Knowledge Flows in Global Organizations.

The Individual's Role in Global Knowledge Work.

The Community's Role in Global Knowledge Work.

Local versus Global Knowledge.

Accessing Global Knowledge Workers.

An Integrative Model.

Tools for Global Knowledge Work.

Summary.

Questions for Reflection.

9. Intellectual Property in Knowledge Work.

Intellectual Property and the Knowledge Diamond.

The Individual.

The Community.

The Organization.

The Industry.

A Changing Global Context.

Individual-Organization Conflict.

Contrasting Organizational Strategies.

National Initiatives.

Open Knowledge Sharing.

An Intellectual Property Paradox.

Tools Related to Intellectual Property.

Knowledge Policy in the Corporate World.

Summary.

Questions for Reflection.

10. Participating in the Knowledge Economy.

The Knowledge Diamond at Work.

Why, How and with Whom We Work.

Conditions Underlying Knowledge Work.

Alignment.

Conflict.

Open Versus Closed Positions.

Process Behind Knowledge Work.

Making and Sustaining Connections.

The evolution of projects.

Collaboration Over the Web.

Contributing to Global Knowledge Work.

Developing Intellectual Property.

Using the Knowledge Work Tool-kit.

Playing Parallel Roles.

A Final Message.

Questions for Reflection.

Bibliography.

Index.