Managing Knowledge Workers : New Skills and Attitudes to Unlock the
Intellectual Capital in Your Organization
by Frances Horibe
Book Description
An indispensable guide to the new techniques for managing knowledge workers They are
the idea people, whose brain power and experience have become more valuable to their
companies than physical assets or products (think Microsoft). Today's knowledge workers
are so in demand, especially in the high-tech sector, that many command large salaries and
will job-hop at the drop of a hat. This hands-on guide gives managers practical, doable
strategies for motivating and keeping knowledge workers without breaking the bank or
sacrificing productivity and quality. It goes beyond the quick-fix of throwing money at
the problem and offers realistic solutions for effectively managing the human side of
intellectual capital. *Features case studies, anecdotes, and examples of companies using
the new managing techniques, including IBM, Deloitte & Touche, and Transport Canada
Table of Contents
Preface The New Demands
Acknowledgements
Chapter 1 Intellectual Capital: What is it and Why Do You Care?
SECTION ONE THE HUMAN SIDE OF HUMAN CAPITAL
Chapter 2 Encouraging New Knowledge
Chapter 3 Pushing Down Complexity
Chapter 4 Tapping Knowledge Throughout the Corporation: Consultation
Chapter 5 Tapping Knowledge Throughout the Corporation: Involvement
Chapter 6 Managing Knowledge You Don't Understand
Chapter 7 Encouraging People to Learn
SECTION TWO THE HUMAN SIDE OF STRUCTURAL CAPITAL
Chapter 8 Freeing the Flow of Information
Chapter 9 The Free Movement of People and Knowledge
Chapter 10 Sharing and Learning
Chapter 11 Teamness
Chapter 12 Rewarding Knowledge
Chapter 13 Being Willing to Change
SECTION THREE THE HUMAN SIDE OF CUSTOMER CAPITAL
Chapter 14 Customer Loyalty is Employee Loyalty
Chapter 15 Assessing Employee Loyalty
Conclusion The End of the Beginning
Index
Reviews
Note: This book was reviewed by Chuck Seeley of Warner Lambert in the
September/October 1999 issue of Knowledge Management Review. Chuck wrote in
part, "Francis Horibe has done more than just hypothesize about managing knowledge
workers; she has addressed the needs of the KM practitioner."
A reader from Toronto, Canada , August 14,
1999
Excellent practical guide to making kn. mgt. theory work.
A lot of the business books that I read offer theory that sounds promising, but that I
have a hard time using in my real world. This book takes the theories of knowledge
management and gives practical, usable ideas for how to make them work on the ground with
today's generation of workers. There are even actual dialogues showing effective and
ineffective ways of dealing with situations that ring very true (sometimes uncomfortably
so). The author clearly knows her field and has a breadth of real-world experience behind
her...and a sense of humour to boot! (That's a breath of fresh air in my business book
library.) I found this book well-organized, a pleasure to read and full of practical
wisdom. I heartily recommend it.
Another
reader from Toronto, Ontario, Canada , August 11, 1999
This useful book is a "must read" for managers.
This is an excellent, useful book. It provides practical, down-to-earth applications of
knowledge management concepts to the real world of the manager. It is obvious that the
author has solid management experience and can speak with authority on what works and what
doesn't. Fortunately, it is not a dry, academic treatise. It is, rather, a humourous and
highly readable blend of theory and practice which would appeal to senior managers who
want to learn how to create the conditions for high productivity from well-educated
workers.
A
reader from Montreal , July 31, 1999
No new thoughts
Ms. Horibe has written an easy read. Unfortunately, it is too simplistic and lacks any
conceptual rigour. Her suggestions are trite and her writing is not original. She spends
way too much space paraphrasing others and regurgitation the research and results of her
colleagues.
This results in a text devoid of originality. I suggest you search for another text
from an author who has more advanced thinking in the field of intellectual capital and
knowledge management.
A
reader from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania , April 5, 1999
An excellent resource for the knowledge age.
Ms. Horibe has written an excellent resource for everyone who must manage or interact with
knowledge workers in any field. This work specifically addresses how to achieve the best
possible performance with a team whose skills, attitudes and motives are vastly different
than in years past and which operates in a new and dynamic business environment. I highly
recommend "Managing Knowledge Workers."
