Title: Knowledge workers and the creation of an information society in Egypt

Authors: Tarek A. El Badawy

Addresses: Faculty of Management and Technology, German University, Main Entrance of Al Tagamoa Al Khames, Egypt

Abstract: The Egyptian knowledge worker is developing within the framework of a variety of external factors. They must contend with the historical background which has created a hierarchical, risk-averse business environment. The regulatory environment is also lacking and despite recent improvements, there are still many changes to be made in order to cultivate knowledge workers. This paper looks at the key ingredients for the development of knowledge workers in Egypt and the division of responsibilities for those ingredients. The key ingredients include (1) educational reform, (2) regulatory reform (3) changes in the structure of Egyptian businesses (4) increased capital investments and (5) training for professionals. These ingredients are common to knowledge workers throughout the world, but the method for addressing these issues is unique to each culture. Knowledge workers are developing differently in Egypt than they did in the USA, where the term was first coined, due to the divergent socio-political backgrounds of the two countries. Despite many difficult challenges in creating an information society, Egypt has already taken many of the necessary steps to do so.

Keywords: knowledge workers; information society; communications technology; economic development, Egypt; human resource management; HRM; employment; educational reform; regulatory reform; organisational change; structural change; capital investment; training; culture.

DOI: 10.1504/IJACMSD.2012.053385

International Journal of Arab Culture, Management and Sustainable Development, 2012 Vol.2 No.4, pp.273 - 291

Published online: 29 Jul 2014 *

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