Beverly Pearl

This is definitely going to be shared around with some of our local, business guides and leaders. It may not be 'one size fits all' but it is one of the most detailed and succinct pieces I've seen on the direction that many well managed companies seem to be taking. It may also give some leaders the courage to let go a little. Thank you for this timely article.

Your comments have merit. However, they depend on schools having budgets and companies allowing employees to surf the net independently using company equipment.
Even this ideal situation wouldn't help someone from the growing ranks of the unemployed who needs to maintain knowledge and understanding in order to raise him/herself out of poverty, or persons living in underdeveloped parts of the world where simply learning that there are methods out there for water purification could mean the difference between life and death for family members.
In this age of instant information it can be critical for people to be 'plugged in', which in my mind makes it a human right.
Either way, I don't think it should be tied to how much money people have. Egalitarian access to the opportunity to join this world-wide collaboration may be as important to the quality of the collaboration as it is to individuals who wouldn't otherwise have the opportunity to develop themselves.