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From knowledge workers to knowmads: skills, roles and attributes – A literature review

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  • Iliescu Andra Nicoleta

    (National University of Political Studies and Public Administration, Bucharest, Romania)

Abstract

This paper aims to achieve a comprehensive image of the knowmad worker. Over the past few decades, knowledge workers have been at the center of academic and practical interest in the knowledge management field. Without excluding other management directions, this specific segment developed for a better understanding and sustaining of organizational knowledge dynamics. Recently - associated with unpredictable changes in all aspects of our lives, that have a direct impact on the business market - the knowmad typology gained increasingly more interest in the academic field, being recognized as an emergent group of learners and workers. They are associated with better adapting skills, increased innovation and creativity performances compared to previous knowledge workers and these qualities ensure individual and organizational competitivity in the contemporary society, as this paper will show. While the primary focus of existing knowmad literature is on the education shift towards a competence-based approach, the working coordinates of these workers remain in a secondary position in the existing literature. Through extensive literature review, and by using a data analysis engine, key concepts have been identified and analyzed in a systematic comparison between knowmads and knowledge workers. The first part of this paper is focused on placing the knowmad workforce into the relevant social context. In the second part and third part, the knowledge worker and knowmad typologies are analyzed from skills, roles, and attributes perspective. Findings obtained through this research show that the knowmad workforce represents the unavoidable future worker, which is both a consequence and a solution for a business environment defined by continuous unpredictable changes. In this respect, future research directions should be focused on the management of knowmad workforce.

Suggested Citation

  • Iliescu Andra Nicoleta, 2021. "From knowledge workers to knowmads: skills, roles and attributes – A literature review," Proceedings of the International Conference on Business Excellence, Sciendo, vol. 15(1), pages 128-138, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:vrs:poicbe:v:15:y:2021:i:1:p:128-138:n:10
    DOI: 10.2478/picbe-2021-0013
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Shahrazad HADAD, 2017. "Knowledge Economy: Characteristics and Dimensions," Management Dynamics in the Knowledge Economy, College of Management, National University of Political Studies and Public Administration, vol. 5(2), pages 203-225, June.
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    3. Ramona Diana LEON, 2015. "The Future Knowledge Worker: An Intercultural Perspective," Management Dynamics in the Knowledge Economy, College of Management, National University of Political Studies and Public Administration, vol. 3(4), pages 675-691, December.
    4. Nelson, Sarah Beth & Jarrahi, Mohammad Hossein & Thomson, Leslie, 2017. "Mobility of knowledge work and affordances of digital technologies," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 37(2), pages 54-62.
    5. Blanca C. Garcia, 2012. "MAKCi: a knowledge-based development metrics experience," International Journal of Knowledge-Based Development, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 3(4), pages 367-387.
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