Knowledge workers too busy with routine activities
36 percent of their working time is spent on routine work. While a large majority of managers consider their knowledge workers to be difficult to replace, only one in two knowledge workers believe this themselves. This is shown by a recently published study.
Routine tasks are part of the daily routine of knowledge workers, and more so than assumed: on average, knowledge workers spend 36 % of their working time on such activities. By contrast, only 29 percent spend time on solving complex problems, and 36 percent on knowledge-based activities.This is revealed by the current knowledge worker study conducted by the Society for Knowledge Management (GfWM), Hays AG and the consulting firm PAC, for which 1215 knowledge workers and managers were surveyed. All respondents had an academic education. Half of them were managers, the other half knowledge workers without management responsibility. The same study was conducted in 2013; compared to then, the results have hardly changed.
Knowledge workers: Loyal to their subjects, but less so to the company
Half of the executives surveyed (51 %) attribute outstanding importance and greater promotion to knowledge workers. However, only 37 percent of these professionals see it that way. Four years ago, both figures were significantly higher, at 57 and 49 percent respectively. One in two knowledge workers (51 %) feels more loyal to their subjects than to their company. That's why 53 percent would also be willing to change companies for further professional development.
Nevertheless, 85 percent of the executives surveyed consider knowledge workers to be difficult to replace. However, this is not reflected in the self-confidence of knowledge workers. Only 50 percent of the professionals surveyed see it that way themselves.
Making better use of knowledge work with IT
To make better use of knowledge work, investments should be made above all in IT infrastructures. 54 percent of managers and 60 percent of knowledge workers see the greatest potential here. By contrast, organizational issues such as the expansion of flexible working hours and locations or new management models rank significantly lower on the scale of urgency.
"Knowledge work takes place in increasingly specialized subject areas. To avoid tunnel vision, companies should regularly give their knowledge workers the option to engage with other content. Because in the digital world, foresight and the ability to get to grips with new issues are important skills," concludes Marc Lutz, Managing Director at Hays (Schweiz) AG.
More information: Hays (Switzerland) AG
