Post-industrial society refers to a society that has undergone an economic transition from a manufacturing-based economy to a service-based economy. Moreover, other characteristics of such a society include dissemination of domestic and international capital and large-scale privatization. However, this economic switch takes place only if the economy and industries are liberal.
Post-Industrial Society and the Emergence of Knowledge-Based Society Daniel Bell, a renowned researcher in this area, defined post industrial society as a knowledge-based society. According to him, this society rests on a set of organized statements of facts and ideas, presenting a reasoned judgment or an experimental result, which is transmitted to others through some communication medium in a systematic form. It represents new things in a degree to which it organizes itself around theoretical types of knowledge. (Bills, 2004) Human societies have undergone different industrial and agricultural revolutions.From the outset of experimentation, inspiration, and innovation, human societies have always been known as knowledge-based societies.
However, with the technological, social, cultural, and economic changes of the past ten decades, the role of information and knowledge within all societies has increased sharply. In this context, according to Deug et al (2005), Bell is considered one of the initial researchers who observed the new mechanism of economic growth, which later became known as the post-industrial society.In this mechanism, knowledge becomes the primary source of innovation. (Deug et al, 2005) He also mentioned that originally, the conception of post-industrial society occurred in the twentieth century. Normally, the concept of post-industrial society mainly underlines the diminishing dependence of the society on mass industries (manufacturing industries).
It also underlines the evolving roles of service sector units, information technology (IT), and knowledge of production. (Deug et al, 2005)Revang and Lowendah (1998) stated that in the present era of information and technology, organizations confront escalating problems for various reasons. Two of the most important reasons that change the competitive context of organizations and executives are knowledge and technology distribution. (Revang and Lowendah, 1998) Deug et al (2005) also mentioned that in this constellation, it is necessary for a country that the institutional retention mechanism should be altered to the emerging knowledge base.
The management of the vast amount of knowledge available and its successful usage and implementation compose a tough challenge. How can organizations collect, generate, and integrate so much information and knowledge? Obviously, knowledge is the most essential part of a society, which enables it to function smoothly. Nonetheless, firms of the knowledge production (at the social level) are considered vital for industrial societies. In reality, as described by Bell, the post-industrial society has developed advanced digital technologies.
In this regard, internet can be taken here as a good example which came into being in the presence of post-industrial societies. Deug et. al (2005) mentioned that in post-industrial societies, new innovations develop allowing the society to shift smoothly for knowledge based-activities. For instance, by applying advanced digital technologies, knowledge-based activities can be executed easily.
By using enhanced technological infrastructures, contemporary firms can integrate knowledge-based activities into other elements of social systems in innumerous ways.Deug et. al, (2005) stated that businesses can change information into knowledge and can integrate this knowledge into products. Thus, it might be appropriate to say that we live in a digital knowledge-based society.
(Deug et. al, 2005) Berry (1974), another researcher in this area, believes that the design of preindustrial society was considered by Bell to be a game against nature; its resources are drawn from extractive industries and it is subject to the laws of diminishing returns and low productivity.The pattern of industrial society is a game against fabricated nature, which is centered on man- machine relationships and uses energy to transform the natural environment. The form of a post- industrial society is a game between persons, in which an intellectual technology based on information rises alongside machine technology. (Berry, 1974) According to Orth (2007), the evolving trend of knowledge-based societies is moving towards a fragile society.
Put differently, in knowledge-based societies, large- and small-scale firms, churches, and states are losing their influence.They have lost nothing of their traditional power and authority, but they are losing out against the individual, against small groups, which are increasingly in a position to undermine the power of big institutions”. (Orth, 2007) In addition, every day, because of the emerging trends between workers and management, customers and firms form new relationships. This is considered one of the most significant changes in a knowledge-based society.
(Orth, 2007) The effects occur at the same time to all individuals living in a particular society. “People who decide to become actively involved will play a very important role in the future”.Finally, since there have always been some experts involved in a particular society, one can say that the growth and development of a knowledge-based society is not simply an issue of knowledge-based work. (Orth, 2007) According to Orth (2007), when he first observed the concept of knowledge-based society, the primary concern for him was that in future, what would be the main resources of economic growth? However, during the last few decades, because of the fact that the presence of post-industrial societies generated large numbers of economic activities, this conception has changed.
Now, with the emergence of post-industrial societies, it has become an easy task to employ the concept of knowledge societies in all main modern social institutions like education & family, state, churches, and so forth. Conclusion The essence of post-industrial societies is to promote knowledge and to innovate. Obviously, in the contemporary world of complex business activities, even farmers need to have adequate training and education to deal with technical equipments. The concept of a post-industrial society and its emergence in the knowledge-based society has given birth to a new business world.
