Abstract
This paper reviews existing literature on motivation and knowledge work, and empirical studies in different environments and industries on knowledge work and worker. It also surveys 150 Nigerian knowledge workers with diverse characteristics. It holds that the optimal strategies for managing and motivating knowledge workers are job redesign to increase the intrinsic motivational value of the jobs; competitive financial rewards, empowerment and flexibility, equity, fairness, respect and regard; a conducive environment that would enable them to bloom and exercise their intellect unhindered, including making mistakes and learning from it in a connected organisation; leadership practices that are responsive to their peculiarities; a leader that is a coach, mentor and enabler and who should be able to convincingly explain why a knowledge worker should agree to be managed by him, and an organizational structure that is devoid of undue bureaucracy and protocols and frees them for optimal performance.
Highlights
The four central issues in organisations are objectives, resources, input-output process and the environment
This paper reviews existing literature on motivation and knowledge work, and empirical studies in different environments and industries on knowledge work and worker. It surveys 150 Nigerian knowledge workers with diverse characteristics. It holds that the optimal strategies for managing and motivating knowledge workers are job redesign to increase the intrinsic motivational value of the jobs; competitive financial rewards, empowerment and flexibility, equity, fairness, respect and regard; a conducive environment that would enable them to bloom and exercise their intellect unhindered, including making mistakes and learning from it in a connected organisation; leadership practices that are responsive to their peculiarities; a leader that is a coach, mentor and enabler and who should be able to convincingly explain why a knowledge worker should agree to be managed by him, and an organizational structure that is devoid of undue bureaucracy and protocols and frees them for optimal performance
There was an empirical study of a cross section of knowledge workers (KWRs) in Nigeria which was designed to elicit a ranking of the relevant motivational variables
Summary
The four central issues in organisations are objectives, resources, input-output process (work) and the environment. An organization is a legal entity established to achieve specified objectives through the optimal utilization of resources and management of the input-output process. The only way to achieve these objectives -whatever they are- is to make a minimum level of profit which will enable it to continue to be in business by least maintaining its wealth-creating abilities. It can make this profit only through mutually beneficial exchanges with customers.
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