Corporate Business Systems and Product Knowledge Learning Environments

The Olive Tree of Knowledge - Main Page

The Acquisition, Retention, and Transfer (ART) of Knowledge and Skills

My problem area is the acquisition, retention, and transfer of knowledge and skills among adult learners. A goal in the analysis of this problem area is the need to develop and maintain a highly proficient workforce in international financial institutions because knowledge equates to wealth.

Olive Tree at Olympia, Greece

The business environment is global in scope, complex, dynamic, and increasingly competitive. Staff members are besieged with multiple learning challenges in operating conditions that constantly evolve as the rate of change accelerates.

Is Learning Timeless?

Can we learn from an ancient Greek culture? Greece is mountainous and arid. The soil is poor and not fit to sustain a large population. Yet ancient Greek civilizations flourished. Why was this the case? Because for them knowledge equated to wealth. Explore how the ancient Greeks acquired, retained, and transferred knowledge and skills. Is there application for their ideas and practices at the turn of this millennium? What legacy will your company leave to successive generations?

Grave Stele of Phylonoe (young mother) from workshop in Attica north of Athens, 380 BC Learning through cognitive apprenticeship
The goal of this work is to address some of the difficulties with the acquisition, retention, and transfer of knowledge in large financial institutions. This goal will be achieved through an exploration of ideas, practices, and artifacts or outcomes in ancient Greek civilizations and modern financial institutions.

One would be hard pressed to find a single industry, company, or organization of any kind that has not become more "information intensive". Ther continues to be enormous growth in the amount of information handled by global financial institutions. What they do with it?

This work is divided into the following pages.

Ideas What ideas did the ancient Greeks have concerning knowledge management? Does your company have any idea about the ART of knolwedge?

Practices What did the ancient Greeks practice to demonstrate knowledge management? What practices does your compnay have in place related to the ART of knolwedge?

Artifacts What artifacts did the ancient Greeks produce to demonstrate the importance of knowledge? What will the outcomes be from your companies ideas and practices related to the ART of knolwedge?

Frank Robertson was a graduate student in the Educational Communication and Technology Program at NYU. Frank developed business applications for several large financial institutions. He also produced learning environments for Chase Manhattan Bank.

Ideas	What ideas did the ancient Greeks have concerning knowledge management? Does your company have any idea about the ART of knolwedge?
Practices	What did the ancient Greeks practice to demonstrate knowledge management? What practices does your compnay have in place related to the ART of knolwedge?
Artifacts	What artifacts did the ancient Greeks produce to demonstrate the importance of knowledge? What will the outcomes be from your companies ideas and practices related to the ART of knolwedge?