Knowledge-Based Economies, Organizations and the Sociocultural Regulation of Work

Abstract

A predominant economic and managerial discourse drives imperatives for a ‘knowledge-based’ economy, now widely espoused by economic leaders in much of the developed world. Demands for ever-modernizing ef.ciencies, production growth and competitive advantage encourage heightened emphasis on knowledge-rich production and innovation. They stimulate strategic managerial and organizational contingencies, labour market .exibility and deregulated markets, and weaken existing norms and processes in the social regulation of work. At the same time, political calls for a ‘learning society’ or a ‘knowledge society’ to accompany a knowledge-based economy gain much attention. They include demands for lifelong learning, for learning organizations and greater worker learning and skills development at work. This article critically examines the knowledge-based economy discourse and its formulation of worker and organizational learning. It argues that alternative conceptualizations of organizational learning that recognize workers’ cultural and non-material demands may stimulate resources for culturally innovative practices. In particular, the article considers ways in which learning economy discourses may be strategically utilized by trade unions, worker educators and other workplace actors in a revitalization of the sociocultural regulation of work.