Thinking styles of technical knowledge workers in the systems of innovation paradigm

The management of technology embodies human choice and freedom, and as such, it may not detach from philosophy and psychology, particularly in the innovation, knowledge and learning paradigm. This paradigm heralds knowledge workers in systems of innovation with renewed emphasis on information and intellectual capital as the primary assets for production. The thinking styles and cognitive preferences for technical knowledge workers are pertinent for sustaining the interrelationships between economic and environmental, social and political, science and technology agents, institutions and organisations. Based on a 2005 survey and descriptive statistics of primary data obtained from 330 respondents, this paper provides a review of cognitive mechanisms while discussing the ranking of preferred thinking styles for engineering and technology management in the new paradigm. Logical, problem solving, conceptualising, analysing and interpersonal thinking styles were ranked in the top five by a judgemental sample comprising engineering, science and technology oriented professionals in supervisory, middle to senior management positions.