Informal Learning
Informal learning (what occurs when interacting with colleagues and managers outside organized meetings) is an underutilized potential. The interaction between the physical, social and psychological aspects of the workplace can impact on the effectiveness of informal learning. According to Franklin Becker (2007) there are 5 ways to promote informal learning:
i) eco-diversity - the more varied the work setting, the more workers were engaged in informal communications
ii) spatial transparency - the more visible co-workers are to one another, the more informal learning will take place
iii) neutral zones - the more space planned for common use, the more workers will communicate and learn from each other
iv) human scale - smaller work areas and less separation between them will facilitate more informal learning
v) functional convenience - space designed to increase the opportunities for chance encounters will increase the likelihood of informal learning
