Harnessing Collective Knowledge

Overview/Description
 There's a new type of worker evolving in today's organization. These individuals don't produce products per se; they produce knowledge that creates smart organizations. This "knowledge work" is more than technical competence. It encompasses the ability to acquire and transfer knowledge effectively, blending personal expertise with that of other members of the work team. In this course, you will gain an understanding of what knowledge work is all about, and you'll discover how to successfully create and sustain your knowledge work teams. Additionally, you'll become aware of how knowledge workers and knowledge teams can foster innovation and creativity in your organization.

Target Audience
 Supervisors, leaders, managers

Expected Duration
2.5 hours

Lesson Objectives:

Redefining Work

  • recognize the value of knowledge work for today's businesses.
  • select the effects of technology on the workplace
  • use what has been learned about the characteristics of knowledge work to identify the examples of such work.
  • match the challenges that knowledge work presents for today's businesses with situations describing those challenges.

    • Knowledge Work Teams

  • recognize the value of knowledge work teams for creating new knowledge.
  • identify the characteristics of knowledge work teams (KWTs).
  • identify the reasons to use knowledge work teams (KWTs) to reach business goals.
  • identify the guidelines for using virtual knowledge work teams (VKWTs).

    • Creating Knowledge Work Teams

  • recognize the importance of certain structural and environmental factors in creating effective knowledge work teams.
  • match the knowledge work team skills with examples of those skills.
  • identify the strategies to enhance innovation and creativity in knowledge work teams.
  • identify the strategies for effective knowledge transfer.

    • Maintaining Knowledge Work Teams

  • recognize the importance of maintaining effective KWTs.
  • match the roles of knowledge work team leaders with the corresponding responsibilities.
  • select the elements that support successful interaction on knowledge work teams.
  • identify how to prepare for the business developments that will affect knowledge work teams in the future.

    • Course Number: TEAM0142