A Soft Systems Approach to Knowledge Worker Productivity—Analysis of the Problem Situation

Helga Guðrún Óskarsdóttir and Guðmundur Valur Oddsson
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Helga Guðrún Óskarsdóttir: Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Iceland, Reykjavik 101, Iceland
Guðmundur Valur Oddsson: Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Iceland, Reykjavik 101, Iceland

Economies, 2017, vol. 5, issue 3, 1-27

Abstract: Low knowledge worker productivity is an important problem that needs to be addressed. Current research addressing this problem is fragmented and deals with different isolated elements of the problem. There is a need for a holistic approach to knowledge worker productivity. This paper takes the first steps of a holistic approach to knowledge worker productivity by using soft systems methodology to describe the problem situation. The main challenge of this research was the abstraction of the results from two literature reviews into simple rich pictures and specific root definitions to identify the fundamentals of knowledge worker productivity. The problem situation was explored from the perspective of two problem owners, the organization and the individual knowledge worker. The rich picture from the perspective of the organization highlighted that the organization must communicate what they perceive as value and create a work environment that promotes collaboration, encourages knowledge sharing, motivates and fulfills the needs of their knowledge workers. The rich picture from the perspective of the individual knowledge worker highlighted the fact that knowledge workers need to manage their personal resources, be effective and efficient to maximize their own productivity. This paper attempts to integrate these two perspectives into a holistic view.

Keywords: soft systems methodology; rich picture; personal resources; energy management; organization; work environment; knowledge worker productivity; management; knowledge management; retaining knowledge workers (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: E F I J O Q (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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