Learning from other people at work

In this chapter, the authors present the findings from one aspect of a project on the development of knowledge and skills in employment. The project involved interviews of people operating at a professional, management, team leader or technician level and aimed to find out: the types of work activity that were being conducted by the respondents; the types of knowledge and skills these entailed; how the respondents had acquired the capability to do what they did; and the factors that had affected this learning process. The findings are presented in three sections: the first section discusses 'organised learning support' which refers to any form of support for people's learning which requires special organisation; the second section examines consultation and collaboration within the working group; and the third section looks at learning from people outside the working group.