In the current issue of Inside
Knowledge magazine,
editor Jerry Ash raises the same question that Chris Hearne brought up in this blog a few days ago: If virtual is so great, how come
conferences are booming?
Here's an excerpt from Jerry's
Editor's letter:
Being trapped largely in the virtual world, where I have built many
personal relationships, I have believed face time is overrated. But every time
I go to an event, I learn better... World class gatherings of people in the flesh
are huge opportunities rewarded by the human energy that accompanies the electric
exchange of knowledge in real space. As Larry [Prusak] says, "If the virtual
world is so great, why are the planes still full?"
The steep rise in airfares may dampen the
conference business a bit, opening the door for better virtual experiences that
can mimic the pleasure of actually meeting someone with similar interests.
(Just in case--please save your travel pennies for APQC's 14th
annual KM conference in Houston next May
14-15.) In my personal case, virtual is OK if I just want
information, but I don't feel warm and fuzzy until I've met someone
face-to-face.
Note: Jerry was a much-welcomed guest at our most
recent KM conference in Chicago.
You need to be an Inside Knowledge subscriber
to read his full transcript of Larry Prusak's conference keynote, but the Editor's
Letter is open to the world.
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