6 May Knowledge Does Not Eliminate Skill (...unproductive.)

[Paul Terlemezian]

We've all heard the "joke" about the plumber who bangs a pipe with a hammer to fix a problem and charges $1 for swinging a hammer and $249 for knowing where to bang the pipe.

 

And of course without swiinging it (the skill) the knowledge had no value.

 

The challenge for the training industry in the knowledge worker era is that the skills while still important - are becoming commoditized. If all we do is train on skills then the learner is likely to find many sources for the learning - and in all likelihood some will be free. If this is the case - how can the corporate training function justify its existence regarding skills training courses?

 

It cannot and should not - in the future I believe that skills acquistion will be the at the expense and effort of the learner. The training organization will be focused on assuring the effective application of the knowledge on the job.

 

What are the implications of this? How could its effectiveness be assured and increased?