Product Description

Knowledge workers create the innovations and strategies that keep their firms competitive and the economy healthy. Yet companies continue to manage this new breed of employee with techniques designed for the Industrial Age. As this critical sector of the workforce continues to increase in size and importance, that’s a mistake that could cost companies their future. Thomas Davenport argues that knowledge workers are vastly different from other types of workers in their motivations, attitudes, and need for autonomy—and so they require different management techniques to improve their performance and productivity. Based on extensive research involving over one hundred companies and more than six hundred knowledge workers, Thinking for a Living provides rich insights into how knowledge workers think, how they accomplish tasks, and what motivates them to excel. Davenport identifies four major categories of knowledge workers and presents a unique framework for matching specific types of workers with the management strategies that yield the greatest performance. Written by the field’s premier thought leader, Thinking for a Living reveals how to maximize the brain power that fuels organizational success.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #195588 in Books
• Published on: 2005-09-13
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 240 pages

About the Author
Thomas Davenport holds the President’s Chair in Information Technology and Management at Babson College. He is Director of Research for Babson Executive Education, an Accenture Fellow, and author, coauthor, or editor of nine books, including Working Knowledge: How Organizations Manage What They Know (HBS Press, 1997).

Customer Reviews

Thinking for a Living
Item was received in a timely manner and was in excellent condition as the seller described. I am very satisfied.

Excellent Buy - A must have
I have read a number of Tom's books, but this one beats them all (I am saving up to buy another one!). The knowledge worker is an essential ingredient for innovation. Fascinating title, well prepared and perfectly laid out thoughts and a simple style writing makes this book a choice material for anyone seeking personal development or involved in self-directed learning. This book is a true blessing and I am glad I bought it. It is a steady reference for my knowledge management project and hopefully, practice.
The average knowledge worker believes in his skills and he can not be taken for granted. Davenport describes the knowledge worker's attributes fully and provides employers and senior management a new direction on how to view their organizational assets. It also helps the knowledge worker to realize his potentialities. After reading this book, my motivaion to improve myself has been further enhanced. Indeed, KM is an essential strategy for supporting performance

You have got to be kidding?
I endeavor to follow the addage that if you have nothing nice to say then say nothing; however, this work is redundant, virtually devoid of any actionable insights, and smacks of a self indulgent attempt to justify his own ideosycratic work habits. I kept going in hopes that one concept would justify my investment of mind. The only return on my investment is a book I can now confindently refer to those I distain and assiduously warn those I adore to avoid.

I am fairly sure the majority of previous reviews are from nodes in his social network who have seized upon his scintilating suggestion that effective knowledge workers maintain and nuture their relationships by treating them well. It is sycophantic myopia when work which could and should be great barely achieves mediocracy receives any praise whatsoever.

If Mr. Davenport reads these words please know that I harbor no ill will to you personally I just found this particular publication of your work seriously wanting.