The concept of the core task and the analysis of working practices

The anticipated change from an information to a learning society calls for more than an increase in formal education - it also demands a better understanding of learning in the workplace (Pantzar 1997). There are many ways of conceptualizing learning, and whichever we choose will direct our research and development activity down a different pathway (Heiskanen 1999). As Launis and Engeström (1999) have pointed out, the traditional concept of a hierarchy of professions and skills is becoming less relevant to present-day circumstances, and needs to be replaced. The concept of work process knowledge, on the other hand, is a way of representing the kind of expertise needed under modern working conditions. Studies of work process knowledge are related to both pedagogically oriented research on expertise and ergonomically oriented research on work activity. By exploring the concept of work process knowledge in greater depth, we can facilitate interaction between these two research traditions and integrate the relevant contributions of both into a more powerful account of the abilities many employees need today.