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A little knowledge is a dangerous thing: getting below the surface of the growth of ‘knowledge work’ in Australia

Author

Listed:
  • Peter Fleming

    (University of Cambridge, UK)

  • Bill Harley

    (University of Melbourne, Australiabharley@unimelb.edu.au)

  • Graham Sewell

    (University of Melbourne, Australia)

Abstract

This article critically addresses the claim that there has been a striking growth in ‘knowledge work’ in advanced economies. Using the Australian Bureau of Statistics Labour Force Survey, we examine occupational change from 1986 to 2000 to evaluate the support for this claim. Researchers have usually relied on aggregate level data to justify the presence of a burgeoning knowledge-based workforce, but we contend that we must ‘get below the surface’ of the major occupational groups by disaggregating the data. This enables us to demonstrate that a substantial component of the apparent growth in knowledge work is accounted for by an increase in low-level information handling occupations rather than by a growth in knowledge work as it is commonly conceived. The article then develops an interpretive framework that makes sense of the data in a manner that avoids both over-estimating the prevalence of the ‘knowledge worker’ and underestimating the knowledge-related activities in jobs commonly considered to be low-skilled and bereft of important competencies.

Suggested Citation

  • Peter Fleming & Bill Harley & Graham Sewell, 2004. "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing: getting below the surface of the growth of ‘knowledge work’ in Australia," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 18(4), pages 725-747, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:woemps:v:18:y:2004:i:4:p:725-747
    DOI: 10.1177/0950017004047951
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ikujiro Nonaka, 1994. "A Dynamic Theory of Organizational Knowledge Creation," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 5(1), pages 14-37, February.
    2. Paul Thompson & Chris Warhurst & George Callaghan, 2001. "Ignorant Theory and Knowledgeable Workers: Interrogating the Connections between Knowledge, Skills and Services," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(7), pages 923-942, November.
    3. David Knights & Fergus Murray & Hugh Willmott, 1993. "Networking As Knowledge Work: A Study Of Strategic Interorganizational Development In The Financial Services Industry," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(6), pages 975-995, November.
    4. Haridimos Tsoukas & Efi Vladimirou, 2001. "What is Organizational Knowledge?," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(7), pages 973-993, November.
    5. Mats Alvesson, 1993. "Organizations As Rhetoric: Knowledge‐Intensive Firms And The Struggle With Ambiguity," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(6), pages 997-1015, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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