Learning is no longer repeating what the expert says, but creating new ideas and insights. Knowledge and learning move from imitation to innovation. This shift also requires specific behavioral competencies. The real expert is the one who succeeds in enriching actual knowledge with groupdynamics, showing openess for co-construction. The expert of the future is both self-confident and humble.

Learning and developing requires sharing of expertise, high quality sharing is creating, and creating is a step-up for innovation.
Learning requires a social area and a context that supports learning (leadership, feedback, coaching,…). The need for time to sit together and to share, and the ability to do this paying attention to a high quality of relations will be crucial. Learning is a proces, not only a matter of result.

Learning implies being competent in dealing with groupdynamics, coaching peers to generate knowledge, stimulating others to contribute.

Companies should create more time and opportunities for people to learn from each other, to reflect and to consolidate.

But, if knowledge and innovation are the result of groupdynamics, and of shared expertise, if knowledge is the product of building new ideas with other people based on existing expertise… who owns expertise then?
How do knowledge-based companies compete in the future? Will they protect knowledge or be faster in creating new products and innovations?
Will there be copyrights in the future? Are the Chinese people no longer unethic transferring ‘copyright’ into ‘the right to copy’, but avant garde in this matter?
Why is Lynda Gratton ‘author’ of the book? Why is she no ‘editor’ of the contribution of hundreds of participants, research groups etc.? Is the book available ‘for free’ on the internet? Will knowledge be a protectable property in the future?

Lou Van Beirendonck
Founder Director – Quintessence Consulting Faculty & Hoofddocent HRM – Antwerp Management School