Career Development of Knowledge Workers

Facing the Challenge

This paper examines some of the issues involved in the effective career management of knowledge workers and specialists.

We use the term 'knowledge workers' here for employees with professional or functional expertise necessary to delivery the products or services of the organisation, or to support the effective running of the organisation.

We will often use the term 'specialist' to describe a person whose contribution to the business lies in doing high level professional or technical work themselves, rather than through managing other people who deliver this work. 'Specialists' in this sense are often at 'managerial levels' in the organisation but not in jobs which involve a lot of format management responsibilities.