James Laffey · Apple
Organizational Memory as a Support for Learning and Performance: Prototypes and Issues

We have developed a prototype of an integrated support and learning system to augment the way people build and gain access to organizational memory. The system we are building is based on the belief that much of the competencies needed to be an effective knowledge worker are learned on the job. This learning is supported by access to organizational memory while in the process of doing one's job. An integrated support and learning system can facilitate learning by helping knowledge workers build, store, dynamically access, and interact with organizational memory. This talk describes the development of a prototype system called "NNAble", and discusses issues raised during our development and testing of the system.

Jim Laffey is a scientist/developer at Apple Computer who imagines, designs and tests technology systems for improving human performance. Jim has a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago and has developed numerous interactive systems for learning. Jim was the lead developer for Macintosh Fundamentals, a interactive multi-media learning system, which has been used by over 20,000 sales and support staff to build expertise in using the Macintosh.