The knowledge society: the challenge of transition

• Published in: Business Information Review
• Main Author: Yapp, Chris
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: SAGE Publications 2000
• Subjects: Economics, Econometrics and Finance (miscellaneous); Business, Management and Accounting (miscellaneous); Business and International Management; Iceland
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0266382004237520; http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0266382004237520

Considers the rapid transition that is taking place from an industrial to a knowledge society and analyzes the components that are likely to comprise such a knowledge society. Explores the nature of that transition and how people will cope with this period of profound change. Points to the lead taken in mobile technologies and interactive TV in Europe compared to personal computer (PC) dominance in the USA; the affect on uptake of new technologies by income, race, gender and age; the emergence of the 24-hour society; the shift from large factories to small, medium and micro enterprises; and the blurring of the boundaries between different sectors of the economy and different institutions. Points to the fact that many of the countries that are making the fastest strides into the knowledge economy are small (Finland, Singapore, Sweden and Iceland). The major investments in ICTs in schools, libraries, colleges and universities is expected to be one of the most profound changes in the long run and the globalization of education will make learning the largest industry of the twenty-first century. Proposes a set of new values for this knowledge society comprising: economic competitiveness with social inclusion; lifelong learning for all; risk: management over minimization; ‘smallish’ is beautiful; social innovation over technological invention; participation over representation; interdependence over independence; value-added with values.