University of Technology Sydney. Faculty of Business. / The thesis critically analyses the gaps among management literatures as discourses of ambition and evaluates them against the realities that constitute praxis. The work provides a different insight into organisational and management theory that encourages critical thinking about the normalising effects of discourse, and points to the possibilities that can emerge from engaging with alternative perspectives, such as those emanating from practitioners. The analytic framework that is used to identify and explicate this hiatus is drawn from Foucault’s genealogy, which is used as a method for conceptualising and explaining relationships between and among discourses. Genealogy is also used to show that there is not merely one way of perceiving an object of discourse and thus creating meaning, but many. The topic of the thesis is knowledge work. The assumption that there is a clear and abiding descriptor of knowledge work supports an erroneous perception that there is consensus in interpretation and that its meanings are fixed and uncontested. Rather, the concept of knowledge work is ambiguous and highly contested. It is inconsistently conceptualised in the literature and scholars frequently omit any definition or clarification of what knowledge work is, perhaps assuming that their readers will have an inherent and automatic understanding of it. The thesis navigates the many discourses of knowledge work. It shows that in practical terms, inferences of neutrality and normality are instead prescriptions, through which different interpretations pit those who prescribe against those who do. Knowledge work has emerged as a significant domain of practice and discourse that resonates within the fields of organisational and management theory, and within the circuits of business, consulting, education, and policy formation. Knowledge has become the business of business, such that the discourse of knowledge work has become significant within the discursive knowledge fields of organisation studies, management studies, economics, technology, intellectual property, globalisation, and finance. The importance of knowledge work is such, that in contemporary discourses it is seen as facilitating a new golden age of a knowledge society. The dissertation tackles this hypothesis through two historical illustrations. The first shows that the modern concept of knowledge work emerged as a response to particular historical conditions to refract social, economic and political circumstances. The second illuminates an antecedent of the contemporary ‘knowledge society’ to show that it is neither new nor unique.

University of Technology Sydney. Faculty of Business. / The thesis critically analyses the gaps among management literatures as discourses of ambition and evaluates them against the realities that constitute praxis. The work provides a different insight into organisational and management theory that encourages critical thinking about the normalising effects of discourse, and points to the possibilities that can emerge from engaging with alternative perspectives, such as those emanating from practitioners. The analytic framework that is used to identify and explicate this hiatus is drawn from Foucault’s genealogy, which is used as a method for conceptualising and explaining relationships between and among discourses. Genealogy is also used to show that there is not merely one way of perceiving an object of discourse and thus creating meaning, but many. The topic of the thesis is knowledge work. The assumption that there is a clear and abiding descriptor of knowledge work supports an erroneous perception that there is consensus in interpretation and that its meanings are fixed and uncontested. Rather, the concept of knowledge work is ambiguous and highly contested. It is inconsistently conceptualised in the literature and scholars frequently omit any definition or clarification of what knowledge work is, perhaps assuming that their readers will have an inherent and automatic understanding of it. The thesis navigates the many discourses of knowledge work. It shows that in practical terms, inferences of neutrality and normality are instead prescriptions, through which different interpretations pit those who prescribe against those who do. Knowledge work has emerged as a significant domain of practice and discourse that resonates within the fields of organisational and management theory, and within the circuits of business, consulting, education, and policy formation. Knowledge has become the business of business, such that the discourse of knowledge work has become significant within the discursive knowledge fields of organisation studies, management studies, economics, technology, intellectual property, globalisation, and finance. The importance of knowledge work is such, that in contemporary discourses it is seen as facilitating a new golden age of a knowledge society. The dissertation tackles this hypothesis through two historical illustrations. The first shows that the modern concept of knowledge work emerged as a response to particular historical conditions to refract social, economic and political circumstances. The second illuminates an antecedent of the contemporary ‘knowledge society’ to show that it is neither new nor unique.

Zugl.: Bremen, Univ., Diss., 2008

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Computing, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2008. / Committee Chair: Mynatt, Elizabeth D.; Committee Member: Abowd, Gregory D.; Committee Member: Edwards, W. Keith; Committee Member: MacIntyre, Blair; Committee Member: Moran, Thomas P.

Thesis (PhD)--Macquarie University, Macquarie Graduate School of Management, 2006. / Bibliography: p. 253-276.

Esta pesquisa analisa as mudanças em curso na sociedade decorrentes das novas tecnologias da informação e comunicação. Estuda-se o informacionalismo como novo modo de desenvolvimento que instaura novas regras de organização de trabalho, imprime novas relações de produção, e um o novo conceito de capital como informação transformada em conhecimento. Constata-se a existência de uma quebra de paradigma hierarquia x matricialidade em um contexto onde as organizações passam a demandar um novo comportamento dos trabalhadores. É analisado o comportamento desejado no “trabalhador do conhecimento”. Aponta-se a falta de domínio das habilidades de leitura e escrita em grande parte da população brasileira, aliada ao modelo tradicional de ensino com alunos passivos como situações que não contribuem para formação do profissional desejado. Busca-se a construção de modos de uso de telecentros em comunidades de baixa renda, de forma a contribuir para que seus usuários desenvolvam as competências do “trabalhador do conhecimento”. Propõe-se e implementa-se formações para educadores de telecentros da região metropolitana de Porto Alegre com a utilização da Pedagogia de Projetos de Aprendizagem integrada a Construção de uma Comunidade Virtual. Os resultados mostram uma Comunidade Virtual com 734 integrantes de 27 ONGS, sedimentada em interações cooperativas. A Comunidade Virtual constitui-se em um espaço de aprendizagem, autoria, construção e fortalecimento de laços sociais. / This research analyses the ongoing changes promoted by the new information and communication technologies. The author researches about the new mode of production based on Information Technology and how it brings a new organization of the work and results in a new relationship of production, as well as the new concept of capital as information changed in knowledge. It realizes the break of a paradigm among hierarchy organizations and matrix organizations in a context where a new behavior is expected of the workers. This research analyses the desired behavior of the Knowledge worker. The low level of literacy and the traditional methods of education keeping students passives, are pointed as situations that do not contribute to the construction of the desired professional. This research intends to build a new model to use telecenters in low income communities, aiming to help local users to develop the abilities desired from the knowledge worker. The research proposes and implements a training course for telecenters educators based on Project Based Learning integrated to a Virtual Community. The results show new Virtual Community of 734 registered users from 27 NGOS, settled on cooperative interactions. The virtual community is built as a space for learning as a space to become an author or to construct and strength social connections.

Esta pesquisa analisa as mudanças em curso na sociedade decorrentes das novas tecnologias da informação e comunicação. Estuda-se o informacionalismo como novo modo de desenvolvimento que instaura novas regras de organização de trabalho, imprime novas relações de produção, e um o novo conceito de capital como informação transformada em conhecimento. Constata-se a existência de uma quebra de paradigma hierarquia x matricialidade em um contexto onde as organizações passam a demandar um novo comportamento dos trabalhadores. É analisado o comportamento desejado no “trabalhador do conhecimento”. Aponta-se a falta de domínio das habilidades de leitura e escrita em grande parte da população brasileira, aliada ao modelo tradicional de ensino com alunos passivos como situações que não contribuem para formação do profissional desejado. Busca-se a construção de modos de uso de telecentros em comunidades de baixa renda, de forma a contribuir para que seus usuários desenvolvam as competências do “trabalhador do conhecimento”. Propõe-se e implementa-se formações para educadores de telecentros da região metropolitana de Porto Alegre com a utilização da Pedagogia de Projetos de Aprendizagem integrada a Construção de uma Comunidade Virtual. Os resultados mostram uma Comunidade Virtual com 734 integrantes de 27 ONGS, sedimentada em interações cooperativas. A Comunidade Virtual constitui-se em um espaço de aprendizagem, autoria, construção e fortalecimento de laços sociais. / This research analyses the ongoing changes promoted by the new information and communication technologies. The author researches about the new mode of production based on Information Technology and how it brings a new organization of the work and results in a new relationship of production, as well as the new concept of capital as information changed in knowledge. It realizes the break of a paradigm among hierarchy organizations and matrix organizations in a context where a new behavior is expected of the workers. This research analyses the desired behavior of the Knowledge worker. The low level of literacy and the traditional methods of education keeping students passives, are pointed as situations that do not contribute to the construction of the desired professional. This research intends to build a new model to use telecenters in low income communities, aiming to help local users to develop the abilities desired from the knowledge worker. The research proposes and implements a training course for telecenters educators based on Project Based Learning integrated to a Virtual Community. The results show new Virtual Community of 734 registered users from 27 NGOS, settled on cooperative interactions. The virtual community is built as a space for learning as a space to become an author or to construct and strength social connections.

Dans un contexte de rareté et volatilité des hauts potentiels, attirer et retenir les "Knowledge workers" est devenu un enjeu de taille pour les entreprises en concurrence. Cette recherche tente d'apporter une lecture spécifique de l'approche "Competency-based pay" (Lawler, 1994 ; Ledford, 1995 ; Zingheim & Schuster, 2007) qui met l'accent sur le rôle stratégique de la structure de rémunération globale (Le Berre, 1993 ; Igalens & Roussel, 1996 ; Peretti, 2000), et le redéploiement efficace de ses composants, et ses modalités d'évaluation et de gestion comme des variables d'action susceptibles de répondre aux espérances des Knowledge workers, dans l'objectif de développer leur engagement organisationnel (Meyer & Allen, 1991 ; Meyer & Parfyonova, 2010). Une étude quantitative est menée auprès de 313 cadres informaticiens de la région parisienne qui renseigne sur leurs prétentions salariales les plus à même d'avoir un pouvoir attractif et prédictif sur leur engagement organisationnel. Il en ressort, l'attractivité perçue à l'égard aussi bien de la rémunération de la performance, individuelle et collective, en réponse à leurs attentes multidimensionnelles; du package de la rémunération flexible constitué d'un large éventail de choix entre les différents composants de la rémunération globale; et de la rémunération du développement personnel et professionnel monnayant leurs investissements consentis au travail. Néanmoins, même si la rémunération irréversible perçue comme un droit acquis s'avère comme peu attrayante en raison des critères d'évaluation inadéquats; il n'en demeure moins vrai qu'une rémunération au mérite se basant sur les compétences déployées et les performances réalisées, est la variable d'action à revisiter par l'entreprise française. Sachant que les Knowledge workers ont constamment le regard porté sur l'équité professionnelle, la reconnaissance du mérite individuel, la valorisation des contributions collectives, la satisfaction du besoin d'accomplissement personnel et professionnel devraient sans tarder inspirer des stratégies de rétention mieux adaptées à ces profils rares et volatiles. / Attracting and holding «Knowledge workers" in the current context of potential scarcity and volatility has become a major challenge for companies in perpetual competition. This research attempts to provide a specific reading of the "Competency-based pay" approach (Lawler, 1994; Ledford, 1995; Zingheim & Schuster, 2007) which focuses on the strategic role of overall compensation structure (Le Berre, 1993; Igalens & Roussel, 1996; Peretti, 2000) and the effective redeployment of its components. This work also examines its methods of assessment and management as action variables likely to meet the expectations of Knowledge workers, with the ultimate objective of developing organizational commitment (Meyer & Allen, 1991; Meyer & Parfyonova, 2010). A quantitative study was conducted among 313 IT managers in the Paris region, the results of which indicate that salary is the variable most likely to have an attractive power and to be predictive of organizational commitment. It appears that in response to multidimensional expectations, flexible remuneration packages increase perceived attractiveness of individual and collective pay for performance. This can be manifested in a wide range of choices between different total compensation components, and includes compensation for personal and professional development resulting from investment at work. “Permanent compensation” is seen as an acquired right, yet is comparatively unattractive because of inadequate evaluation criteria, thus, merit pay based on deployed skills and performance is the variable that French companies need to reexamine. Knowing that Knowledge workers constantly seek employment equity and recognition of individual merit and collective contributions, strategies suited to satisfying the personal and professional needs of these rare and volatile individuals should immediately be enacted.

abstract: There are many different approaches to the analysis of regional economic growth potential. One of the more recent is the theory of the creative class, and its impact on creative centers. Much of the criticism surrounding this theory is in how the creative class is defined and measured. The goal of this thesis is to explore alternate definitions to better understand how these variations impact the ranking of creative centers as well as their location through space and time. This is important given the proliferation of rankings as a benchmarking tool for economic development efforts. In order to test the sensitivity that the creative class has to definitional changes, a new set of rankings of creative centers are provided based on an alternate definition of creative employment, and compared to Richard Florida's original rankings. Findings show that most cities are not substantially affected by the alternate definitions derived in this study. However, it is found that particular cities do show sensitivity to comparisons made to Florida's definition, with the same cities experiencing greater variations in rank over time. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.U.E.P. Urban and Environmental Planning 2014

Esta pesquisa analisa as mudanças em curso na sociedade decorrentes das novas tecnologias da informação e comunicação. Estuda-se o informacionalismo como novo modo de desenvolvimento que instaura novas regras de organização de trabalho, imprime novas relações de produção, e um o novo conceito de capital como informação transformada em conhecimento. Constata-se a existência de uma quebra de paradigma hierarquia x matricialidade em um contexto onde as organizações passam a demandar um novo comportamento dos trabalhadores. É analisado o comportamento desejado no “trabalhador do conhecimento”. Aponta-se a falta de domínio das habilidades de leitura e escrita em grande parte da população brasileira, aliada ao modelo tradicional de ensino com alunos passivos como situações que não contribuem para formação do profissional desejado. Busca-se a construção de modos de uso de telecentros em comunidades de baixa renda, de forma a contribuir para que seus usuários desenvolvam as competências do “trabalhador do conhecimento”. Propõe-se e implementa-se formações para educadores de telecentros da região metropolitana de Porto Alegre com a utilização da Pedagogia de Projetos de Aprendizagem integrada a Construção de uma Comunidade Virtual. Os resultados mostram uma Comunidade Virtual com 734 integrantes de 27 ONGS, sedimentada em interações cooperativas. A Comunidade Virtual constitui-se em um espaço de aprendizagem, autoria, construção e fortalecimento de laços sociais. / This research analyses the ongoing changes promoted by the new information and communication technologies. The author researches about the new mode of production based on Information Technology and how it brings a new organization of the work and results in a new relationship of production, as well as the new concept of capital as information changed in knowledge. It realizes the break of a paradigm among hierarchy organizations and matrix organizations in a context where a new behavior is expected of the workers. This research analyses the desired behavior of the Knowledge worker. The low level of literacy and the traditional methods of education keeping students passives, are pointed as situations that do not contribute to the construction of the desired professional. This research intends to build a new model to use telecenters in low income communities, aiming to help local users to develop the abilities desired from the knowledge worker. The research proposes and implements a training course for telecenters educators based on Project Based Learning integrated to a Virtual Community. The results show new Virtual Community of 734 registered users from 27 NGOS, settled on cooperative interactions. The virtual community is built as a space for learning as a space to become an author or to construct and strength social connections.