Web 2.0:Balancing collaboration and process efficieny through informal learning

In the world of process efficiency it is sometimes hard to plan where collaboration should be used. This is especially the case when processes are being determined by people not directly involved in the process.

So how can informal learning maintain this balance in the new world of wikis, blogs, and instant chat? The answer is to promote informal learning and promote people to share their knowledge through wikis and blogs. Processes will always evolve because the nature of businesses change due to external factors including technology.

You don't need to tell young people to informally learning. Younger people do it now through MySpace, Facebook, etc. But the older generation (including me at 35) is used to being fit into a coporate culture with clear boundries, established processes, and a heirachial structure. I can not tell you how often I've seen a potential helpful product on the net only to see that the program is blocked by my company. Companies who leverage web 2.0 related technologies look to provide employees authorship so the company can benefit. There is a related expression that if you sometimes give away power you will get more in return. Companies today must realize the competitive advantage they can obtain by providing authorship to employees using web 2.0 technologies.