Today’s knowledge worker is typically deeply immersed into the digitally rich, ubiquitous work space during most of the wake hours. Information technology has enhanced knowledge work processes, especially communication related to the work processes, in several ways. Technological tools enable asynchronicity, spatial dispersion, and mobility. Work is no longer bound to time or place, and working environments in the digital era differ from those before. In the context of knowledge work this means using technological tools to enhance performing tasks and, especially, to support co-creation. The paper aims to build a retrospect on discussion around them during last twenty years. The paper addresses work environments of knowledge work based on structured literature review on how tools supporting knowledge work, their affordance and information ergonomics and effects on well-being, performance and productivity have been studied in articles published in top 10 knowledge management area journals. The paper reveals the gap between managerial intentions, practice and discussion in literature. The practical contribution of the paper is about summarising development of knowledge work environment and means of production. This is about on concentrating focus on relevant issues and recent findings. Many topics in the field emerge in cycles, yet they remain at least partly unsolved in practice