Synapsys Blog - Synergies Between Formal and Informal Learning

Synergies Between Formal and Informal Learning

Lilia Efimova is doing a PhD on 'personal productivity in a knowledge intensive environment: a weblogs case'. During the course of her research, she has uncovered some of the difficult organisational problems that arise when trying to approach learning holistically, embracing both sides of the formal/informal learning coin:

"In practice the above forms of learning are more and more perceived as two sides of the same learning process, whereas organisationally they still "belong" to different departments. Formal learning programs are planned and managed under HR/T&D umbrella, while informal learning usually addressed within knowledge management domain. This seemingly dichotomy results in a variety of learning-support efforts in a company that often are not related nor aligned. This results in lack of support for informal learning, duplicated or contradictory interventions, unnecessary costs and lost opportunities to improve quality."

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