In this paper, I argue that the most provocative work in critical knowledge organization is happening at the level of process. I present three persistent assumptions about knowledge organization work and current provocations that challenge them. First, that systems should be seamless and not reveal the work behind them. Second, that systems should achieve a single authorial voice through consistency, precedent, and patterns. Third, that knowledge organization systems are best applied with minimal interpretation on the part of the worker. The provocations against each of these assumptions come from current and highly regarded work in the field, indicating greater respect and visibility for the processes behind knowledge organization systems.