Knowledge worker is a misleading term. When Peter Drucker first defined it, he elevated information and those who handle it to a new level of importance.

Knowledge implies value and validity. History provides dozens of examples of “knowledge” reduced to quaint anecdotes after innovative ideas have overturned how we interpret that knowledge.
Knowledge workers for the most part are baggage handlers, porting information from point to point with little comprehension of the contents of the baggage they handle. When tasked with thinking outside the box, few are comfortable or even capable of seeing beyond the surface of the knowledge which boxes their imaginations.

Knowledge is backward-facing information. The unfortunate fate of many organizations will be a lack of ability in combining knowledge with imagination to generate alternate scenarios and opportunities. Extracting concepts from existing knowledge and integrating it with information from diverse exterior sources is a vital to innovative thinking. Identifying unique alternatives for processes, products or services is the foundation of future competitive advantage.

Knowledge can blind people to alternate possibilities. Leveraging knowledge by challenging its value and validity can create opportunity. An organization that manages knowledge but fails to challenge the meaning is on a one-way trip to the walled space of mediocrity. Differentiation and competitive advantage will continue to remain beyond its grasp.