24 May Defining the Task in Knowledge Work (...how...after the what...)

[Paul Terlemezian]

Unlike manual or industrial work where the task is predefined and in many cases automated or somehow enforced by a managed process - we are likely to discover that the knowledge worker determines what to do and then how to do it.

 

The knowledge worker becomes the "machine" and or "process" that defines/determines in real-time what is the "task-at-hand."

 

The ability to access data and use knowledge to make decisions in a manner that uses less time and resources per quality decision than the "competition" is the focus of knowledge work.

 

Establishment of productivity measures and repeated success with this focus may be the underlying principle that supports the notion of the knowledge worker as an asset - a strategic differentiator vs. a necessary cost.

 

What do you think?

[Paul Terlemezian]

From May 24-26, 2013 I read "The Two-Second Advantage" by Vivek Randadive and Kevin Maney. I recommend it to others that are interested in maintaining or building their mindset around where learning and technology are headed.

It opened up for me the concepts related to "predictive thinking" and how future computers will be designed to mirror the predictive (not analytic) aspect of the brain.

Knowledge works perform predictively - and interpretively. When the predictive and interpretive nature of work can be determined it may be automated. Remember when we told time by "reading shadows created by the sun?" We are much more accurate know with clocks/watches or other devices that tell us the time and have eliminated the need to teach people how to read shadows in order to tell time. We do however have to teach people how to build, repair and care for watches. The sun seems to be able to take care of itself!