Learning by Machine: A Multiple Perspective Approach to Knowledge Work Analysis

Knowledge management is a diverse, complex and often contradictory activity ( Newell et al. 2001). This paper investigates a study of operators at a printing company. The operators are characterised as knowledge workers and the possibilities to introduce information based knowledge support for these workers were investigated. To deal with the complexity, a five perspective interpretative framework is suggested. A complex picture emerged; different intertwined and interacting knowledge management themes were found. The outcome of the study is a discussion of the necessity to discuss different and very diverse aspects of knowledge management in an integrated way.