Information and knowledge economies - Work and management in the Canadian Federal Public Service

This research presents a critique of interpretations and management of information and knowledge as operative in the architecture of our modem global economy. Given the transformation of this economic infrastructure, we state that there is a concomitant need to examine and clarify the operative logic of expert systems and networks of knowledge. The case example we use is the nature of the knowledge-based economy as it appears in the Canadian Federal Civil Services. Archival research and interviews with a range of Federal Government Departments and Agencies on a number of topics including employment management practices and knowledge management were conducted. The archival research reveals profound yet articulated changes in the infrastructure of the work force. It became clear that there is a concomitant but disturbingly unarticulated change in the processes involving the operations of information and knowledge. We distinguish and contrast these with definitions derived from semiotic and information science frameworks. We argue for the importance of the collective and processual nature of knowledge. Our conclusions allow us to specify the shortcomings of existing knowledge management approaches and to identify a necessary and specific focus for future knowledge initiatives in organizations.