Abstract
The demand for knowledge workers is on the increase, yet little is known about their career perceptions and attitudes. The objective of this article is to determine the factors affecting the career development of knowledge workers in South Africa. Part-time learners of a postgraduate course were used as a purposive sample and 82 completed questionnaires were received. The results of the online survey provide an interesting look at the unique career issues knowledge workers experience from a South African perspective. Issues identified dealt with the lack of importance placed upon organisational training, the lack of interest in temporary work assignments and the low importance placed on learning from mentors. Organisations need to take note of their reward structures as knowledge workers have indicated that promotions and rewards based on their knowledge is insufficient.
Highlights
Knowledge is stored in the minds of knowledge workers, which means that organisations need to balance business needs against the needs of knowledge workers (Stokely, 2008:47) to ensure that organisational knowledge becomes a strategic asset in order to remain competitive and survive in the knowledge economy (Zack, 1999)
This article aims to investigate the issues and aspects related to career development of knowledge workers in South Africa
The career issues affecting knowledge workers were established through an online survey, providing a view on the autonomy, rewards, training and progress experienced by knowledge workers in their careers
Summary
Knowledge is stored in the minds of knowledge workers, which means that organisations need to balance business needs against the needs of knowledge workers (Stokely, 2008:47) to ensure that organisational knowledge becomes a strategic asset in order to remain competitive and survive in the knowledge economy (Zack, 1999). Services and processes that create value are becoming more complex, requiring even more changes in the way organisational knowledge is managed. This result in changes in the way knowledge workers develop their careers. The knowledge economy is forcing knowledge workers to realise that multiple assignments, projects, jobs and possibly multiple careers are the norm. Even though the knowledge economy can be turbulent, successful knowledge workers are able to see new opportunities for themselves and society (Drucker, 2001:283). The demand for knowledge workers is on the increase, yet little is known about their career perceptions and attitudes
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