A Critical Study on the Characteristics of Knowledge Workers

Abstract

Objectives The supply-demand model in the labor market of the existing industrial society has limitations for sustainable human resource utilization. This is because the labor market has changed due to the advent of the knowledge economy society. Therefore, this study intends to carry out a critical examination of the characteristics of human resources in the knowledge society.
 Methods The economic paradigm and corporate labor environment of the existing industrial society and the knowledge-based economy were compared and analyzed. The overall characteristics and limitations of knowledge workers was discussed. Therefore, the issues of knowledge workers were analyzed in terms of productivity, motivation, and performance management, and the characteristics of general workers and knowledge workers were derived to raise issues about knowledge workers in terms of productivity and motivation.
 Results The characteristics of knowledge workers in the knowledge-based economy show that they are motivated through work achievement through the use of knowledge and challenging work performance rather than existing monetary and time compensation. If the company does not satisfy the motivation of knowledge workers, knowledge workers choose to change jobs more easily than existing workers.
 Conclusions In conclusion, these knowledge workers show that non-monetary compensation is important in addition to various existing incentives and monetary compensation. Therefore, non-monetary compensation requires maximizing knowledge creation, transfer, and utilization within the organization. In addition, it can be suggested as an implication that efforts to promote self-realization and motivation of knowledge workers are included through the development of companies into learning-oriented organizations.