Forbes Special Sections

Forbes Special Sections

Cisco Systems Chief Executive Officer John Chambers may not have a crystal ball, but he does have a rock-solid prediction: "E-learning is the next big killer application." He is absolutely right, and smart companies are taking notice -- and action. Best-practice businesses, ranging from Dell Computer Corp. to Ernst & Young and Verizon Communications to the U.S. Navy, know that their future success depends upon their ability to foster a corporate culture where learning is second nature. As former General Electric Chief Executive Jack Welch says, "Our only strategic competitive advantage is the intellectual assets of our people."