The importance of learning in business

Sir Ken Robinson recently observed that if a person went to a dinner party and announced he was a teacher there would be a deafening silence. Yet everyone claims to have an "interest" in education.

There has been much discussion about the importance of creativity and innovation in business. It has been suggested that some industries and professions will be forced to change by the commoditisation and automation of services they currently provide. Databases and software will force "knowledge workers" to develop new ways of doing business.

But according to Robinson: "We don't grow in to creativity, we grow out of it...we get educated out of it".

It's not just about technology: it's about the effort your business puts into "research and development" in areas ranging from customer service, management, employees to corporate social responsibility as well as how you use technology to make your goods or provide your services.

How many innovative businesses do you know?

References:
Sir Ken Robinson (video)
E-learning for industry
Revenge of the Right Brain
A Whole New Mind