In the last decade, we have seen technology bring worlds and people together in a manner which existed only in our parents and grandparents imaginations. Within little more than a generation, we have moved from an era where it took a letter week to reach its destination, to one in which the click of a button can transfer information anywhere in the world in a matter of minutes. It is this same technology that has revolutionized training and development programs. This information and communications technology, which encompasses the Internet, Intranet, and CD ROMS, is not a passing fad promoted by Bill Gates or his counterparts, but rather a resource of tremendous possibilities.
It is perhaps in business and industry where this information and communications technology has had the most impact. Not only has technology "changed the nature of work but has also become the essential tool by which people in the professions, industry and commerce maintain their knowledge and skills" (Working Smarter, p. 1). In today's ever changing work environment, the value of a knowledgeable, competent workforce is tremendous, and the role that technology plays in producing these capable employees should not be underestimated. …