When coming into the Knowledge Society, the importance of official and unofficial networks is definitely rising. Within a network you develop more than individually. The networks do exist because of a mutual benefits like “win-win situation”. If I have something to share, I’ll get more than I’ll give. Another important issue is that the networks are those trusted sources that verify the most valuable information/knowledge from the current information overflow. Do we need consultants so much in the future? In my opinion NO.
The challenge is that so called closed systems provided by big players does not respond well to today’s needs and requirements. Learning Management Systems (LMSs) are often making the learning too compligated and too difficult, which means that investment calculations do not realize, because only minor part of the target audience does REALLY complete the learning content they are intended to go through.
The problem with LMS is often that it is developing the individuals and not the groups of people as well as LMS often restricts and controls the individuals too much. The skills within a group or a team will be developed the best within collaboration, which means that knowledge will be transferred between the individuals via facilitated discussion within a virtual meeting / face-to-face meeting. Another way is to use structured/dedicated web sites in order to create asyncronous opportunity for knowledge transfer, which reduces unnecessary email radically. The main motto is to share everything, but in a smarter, transparent and structured way.