¹Rice University Houston, Texas, U.S.A.

Correspondence: G. Anthony Gorry, Jones Graduate School of Management, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, U.S.A. Tel: 713 348 6054; E-mail: tony@rice.edu

Received 7 November 2008; Revised 7 November 2008; Accepted 16 February 2009.

Abstract

Fluidity in the transfer of knowledge is rightly touted, because the pace of work rewards businesses that know what they know – and know it right away. Companies are, therefore, understandably eager to exploit technology in new knowledge management systems. Business leaders should recognize, however, that new technology never grants its bounty freely: it exacts a cost when it amplifies our abilities. Increasingly, the tools of the Information Age are encouraging us to learn just enough, just in time. Such shallow learning may have unfortunate consequences for business.