The discussion of different perceptions of what concrete looks like is to me the central point. I like the idea of concrete that still has time to be formed into something. I know others that want concrete to be solid, set and unchanging. Isn't this just a matter of differing personality traits? Because of this I think that informal learning sits well with those who like 'wet' concrete and 'dry' concrete for those who prefer a more formal approach.
Knowledge itself has different meanings for different people. Some look to gain knowledge to fill a specific need whereas others seek knowledge to build a bigger picture - though they may not know what that is yet.
As for how informal learning fits within organisations, again I think it depends on where you are coming from. Firstly, everybody learns both informally and formally. From a business perspective it is understandable to want people's informal learning to be aligned with the needs of the business. However, a real benefit of informal learning for businesses is it's very lack of direction. From one perspective this may seem to be a waste of business resources however informal, self-directed learning is where business innovation springs from. If all learning were to follow pathways laid down by the business then the results will be more-or-less within business expectations. However, if learning is more informal and free-form, new ideas, solutions and innovations that arise from this will provide business with a competitive advantage over its rivals.
