Crossing Boundaries Through Work-integrated Knowledge Communities

Abstract

This paper reports from the preliminary lessons learned of an action case study in which learning initiatives in a business organisation are investigated. The main question is about how to integrate knowledge and learning processes in business work processes? We are at present facing the challenge of integrating an actual business work process with an sustainable knowledge and learning process in an on-going action case research project together with a company within the chemical industry. We argue for a greater appreciation of informal learning processes as powerful complements to formal training and capability building. The implications from the case study so far, are that the business processes need to reconsider its learning capacity from the point of view of actual work practice. We propose the vision of a work-integrated knowledge community that is facilitated by crossing boundaries in the daily work practice of business organisations.