Knowledge is power.
Whosoever proclaimed this probably didn't realize that his words will mean more than they actually do. Knowledge has always been power from the prehistoric times of homo erectus to the modem day man, made of nanotechnology. For the medieval man knowledge of the best place for finding food and secure shelter were definitions of power. For a modern day man it is the knowledge itself_knowledge as a business is power that can subdue all other forms of powers.
The Econmomist Global Executive in a May 8th article, "Knowledge is power" argues that in the modern world of business realization of this fact is the defining point between having power and lacking in it. Surveys, it is argued, tell us that best performing companies are those which find new and creative ways of harnessing knowledge. So what is the solution then? Do we simply take this fact and get going on our way expecting success on every step. Well maybe! But then there is the problem of resolving issues pertaining to sharing of knowledge amongst employees of the same company. Obviously if we know the knowledge that we possess will take us further than we were hoping for we will try to keep it to ourselves.
Here I think Bertrand Russell in his famous Reith lecture "The role of individuality" falters when he so simplistically makes way for his argument that the success of a company means success of the individual employee or vice versa. I think it is not a perfect model or atleast is not a model that can be practiced in this world of multitudes.
The competition becomes fierce where resources are constricted. For everyone to be able to earn the most and lead a happy life knowledge becomes an important denominator.
Whosoever proclaimed this probably didn't realize that his words will mean more than they actually do. Knowledge has always been power from the prehistoric times of homo erectus to the modem day man, made of nanotechnology. For the medieval man knowledge of the best place for finding food and secure shelter were definitions of power. For a modern day man it is the knowledge itself_knowledge as a business is power that can subdue all other forms of powers.
The Econmomist Global Executive in a May 8th article, "Knowledge is power" argues that in the modern world of business realization of this fact is the defining point between having power and lacking in it. Surveys, it is argued, tell us that best performing companies are those which find new and creative ways of harnessing knowledge. So what is the solution then? Do we simply take this fact and get going on our way expecting success on every step. Well maybe! But then there is the problem of resolving issues pertaining to sharing of knowledge amongst employees of the same company. Obviously if we know the knowledge that we possess will take us further than we were hoping for we will try to keep it to ourselves.
But creating an atmosphere in which knowledge can be shared can be almost as challenging as obtaining it in the first place. This is the potential prisoner’s dilemma of knowledge: the more valued it becomes, the less incentive employees have to share it with one another, at the risk of losing the competitive advantage of what they know—or, worse, seeing another profit at their expense. This proves to be even more true at the company level. While firms might turn to external partners to enhance their knowledge base, the sharing will be incomplete without mutual trust.
Here I think Bertrand Russell in his famous Reith lecture "The role of individuality" falters when he so simplistically makes way for his argument that the success of a company means success of the individual employee or vice versa. I think it is not a perfect model or atleast is not a model that can be practiced in this world of multitudes.
The competition becomes fierce where resources are constricted. For everyone to be able to earn the most and lead a happy life knowledge becomes an important denominator.
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