From Capitalism to Knowledge

From Capitalism to Knowledge Society
After WW II, knowledge was applied to knowledge -> Management Revolution
Now knowledge has become the factor of production sidelining capital and labour
Drucker argues that we haven’t yet become a knowledge society, but we are a post-capitalist society
New Meaning of Knowledge:
Greeks: Socrates: There is only self-knowledge, for the intellectual, spiritual, moral growth of a person
Protagoras: Knowledge meant logic, grammar and rhetoric , the core of liberal education
East: Confucians: Knowledge means what to say and how to say it for advancement and earthly success

From Capitalism to Knowledge Society
Taoists and the Zen: Self-knowledge was the road to enlightenment and wisdom
East and West did not attribute utility to knowledge. It did not mean ability to do something or skill.
The Greek word for skill was techne
The combination of techne, the mystery of craft skill with logy, organised, systematic, purposeful knowledge led to the discovery of technology during the Ind Revolution
Dramatic shift from skill to technology, application of knowledge to tools, products and processes
From household production to factory production: IR, the machine and factory system began in mid 18th C.

Productivity Revolution: application of knowledge to work
Taylor: work could be studied, in manual operations there is only work, no skilled work
Work could be analysed and divided into a series of simple repetitive motions to be done in one right way with the right tools
Taylor’s intentions were attacked by workers and management.
Drucker: The productivity revolution defeated Marxism, Marx’s proletarians did not become affluent, but became middle class
From Capitalism to Knowledge Society