The document discusses how the training function in organizations needs to change to reflect the evolving 21st century workplace. It notes that work environments have become increasingly complex, blurring the lines between work, home and play. This requires training to move from a focus on best practices to supporting emergent and collaborative practices. The document advocates for a new "wirearchy" model of work based on information sharing and a two-way flow of authority. It suggests training should emphasize probing environments, sense-making, and responding in a way that connects workers and supports collaborative work and learning.

1. The Training Department
in the
21st Century Workplace
How will the training function
need to change
to reflect the workplace?
Harold Jarche
www.jarche.com
Saturday, 22November, 2008 1

2. Work
The way that we have worked, and what
we consider employment, has changed
through the centuries
Saturday, 22November, 2008 2

3. 19th Century
The work environment was relatively simple and best practices for
management and communications were developed that still inform
many of our current work practices.
Saturday, 22November, 2008 3

4. 20th Century
http://flickr.com/photos/brianhendrix/
The information age emerged and organisations had to deal with
complicated environments. The flood of management books is an
example that there was no single best practice, only good practices.
Saturday, 22November, 2008 4

5. 21st Century
http://flickr.com/photos/8594424@N07/
Our work environments are becoming complex, blurring the lines
between work, home and play. We now have access to anyone at
anytime.
Saturday, 22November, 2008 5

6. Cynefin Framework
• Simple - Cause & Effect
Obvious
• Complicated - Cause &
Effect needs Analysis
• Complex - Cause &
Effect only seen in
Retrospect
• Chaotic - No Relation
between Cause & Effect
More info: http://www.cognitive-edge.com/
Saturday, 22November, 2008 6

7. Complex Environments Mean that we need to Probe (Act)
19th C.
Best Practices Sense Categorize Respond
SIMPLE
20th C.
Good Practices Sense Analyze Respond
COMPLICATED
21st C.
Emergent Practices Probe Sense Respond
COMPLEX
Saturday, 22November, 2008 7

8. Indicators of Change
• Digital tools democratize access to
information
• Hyperlinks subvert hierarchy
• It’s a “ubiquitously connected &
pervasively proximate” world
• Crowd-sourcing
• Beta releases
Saturday, 22November, 2008 8

9. Industrial Hierarchy
“management knows best”
the outside world
Management
Workers
Saturday, 22November, 2008 9

10. Networked Reality
the outside world
Workers
the
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ldr
wo
ou
ts
de
ide
tsi
Management
wo
ou
rld
e
th
Saturday, 22November, 2008 10

11. Wirearchy
a new model for work
Saturday, 22November, 2008 11

12. Wirearchy
• "a dynamic two-way flow of power and
authority based on information,
knowledge, trust and credibility, enabled
by interconnected people and
technology" - Jon Husband
http://wirearchy.com/
Saturday, 22November, 2008 12

13. First we have to take action:
Probe
21st C.
Emergent Practices
Probe Sense Respond
COMPLEX
ENVIRONMENT
Saturday, 22November, 2008 13

14. A New Model for
Work & Learning
2) Sense- Management 3) Responding
making
Information
Knowledge & Trust
Workers
1) Probing
Saturday, 22November, 2008 14

15. Probe
Sense
Respond
Saturday, 22November, 2008 15

16. Training c. 21st Century
Supporting Work in Complex Environments
2) Emergent 3) Tools
Practices
Connecting
Communicating
1) Collaborative Work/Learning
Saturday, 22November, 2008 16

17. How do I start?
Saturday, 22November, 2008 17

18. Be an active & continuous learner
Be a lurker (passive participant) LISTEN
Communicate what you observe
Continuously collect feedback,
not just after courses
Make it easy to share information by
simplifying & synthesizing
Use Web Networks as research tools
Saturday, 22November, 2008 18

19. Cartoons: gapingvoid.com
Contact: harold@jarche.com
Saturday, 22November, 2008 19