A Theoretical Investigation of the Synergy Between Enterprise E-Learning and Knowledge Management

Organizations wishing to achieve and sustain competitive advantage need to improve the knowledge and skills of their workforce. E-learning and knowledge management are distinct disciplines that both aim to serve this purpose. The primary focus of this paper is to investigate the fields of e-leaming and knowledge management within an organizational context, in order to determine whether the two disciplines can leverage off one another for the purpose of improved learning in organizations. The manner in which organizations currently implement learning is addressed. Both fields are investigated in terms of their characteristics, benefits, environment, and implementation issues. A number of similarities are found to exist, and it is concluded that the two fields can leverage off one another in order to improve organizational learning. Current models of enterprise learning are explored, and inform the creation of a proposed framework to guide organizations wishing to improve learning, by synergizing aspects from the disciplines of e-learning and knowledge management.