Geo-Knowledge Workers Needed for Land Surveying and Geomatics Success

A Knowledge Workers Main Capital is Knowledge

Wikipedia begins defining a Knowledge Worker as: “Knowledge workers are workers whose main capital is knowledge“. Is knowledge your main capital?

The term “knowledge worker”  was first used by Peter Drucker in the late 1950’s to describe post-industrial employees working primarily with, or developing, information and knowledge. Put more simply, a knowledge worker uses their head more than their back. While the concept is fairly straightforward, adoption of the knowledge worker concept is either difficult for some to make, and/or is not implemented fully or competently by some.

However, for those who embrace the knowledge worker model leads to great business, career, and employment opportunities. In this article, and some to follow, let’s look at the knowledge worker as it relates to running a land surveying/geomatic business and being a better, more employable, worker.

Geo-knowledge Workers Needed for Land Surveying and Geomatics Success

To be successful in the land surveying and geomatics fields, whether you are a business owner or employee, you must become a knowledge worker – or, more specifically, a  Geo-Knowledge Worker!

I mentioned above that a knowledge worker uses their head more than their back, but I want to stress that in the land surveying and geomatics fields you WILL use your back, too. That’s just a fact, until they invent the surveying magic wand, which requires no cutting of line, or digging, or banging stakes, or… you get the idea.

Knowledge Workers Know What to do When

So, while working with and developing information and knowledge is the foundation to build your career as a knowledge worker, there is one other as important factor: Knowledge workers know what to do when. This is a big difference from how work was performed in the past, starting with the industrial revolution and much of last century.

Most workers in the industrial complex of the past were as much a cog in the machinery as the real cog-laden machinery they worked with. The industrial process relied on having the exact materials and supplies, including human labor, in place. The process was defined and the worker was told what to do when. Today, however, in the post-industrial workplace, a true knowledge worker understands what is important and independently knows what to do when.

How does this relate to you? First, as a Geo-Knowledge worker you should posses a solid footing in land surveying and geomatics. Knowing the technical and professional concepts and skills is your knowledge capital. Second, and maybe more important, is that you work independently to develop, understand and use your knowledge, at a professional level, knowing what to do when.

Gone are the days when you are told everything that you will do, where, when and how to go do it, as a cog in the machine.