In reply to Mark Vickers.

You're right, Mark, 90% is a generalization. Data show that knowledge workers spend 95.12% of their time not in formal training. Robert Kelley showed that knowledge workers have less than 8% of the knowledge they need to do their jobs in their heads. That means they have to get it somewhere else and the best way would be socially, through knowledge management or via a performance support system. Learning socially does work, as evidenced by new hire training at New Seasons Market. Training (course) evaluation is a mug's game if that's all you do. The focus on workplace performance needs to expand to informal & social learning.

Formal training is no longer seen as an "essential" part of workplace performance in many organizations, some of which I am working with. That's why it is being outsourced.