Applying Knowledge Effectively

Dr. Tony Wagner of Harvard University's Innovation Lab says that success for young people no longer centers on knowledge acquisition but rather knowledge application. In other words, you need to use knowledge to solve problems.

Google senior vice president of people operations, Laszlo Bock, says that "learning ability" is the trait Google looks for in future employees. "It's the ability to process on the fly. It's the ability to pull together disparate bits of information."

Does that mean all specialized knowledge is thrown out the window?  No, of course not. Professionals still need technical expertise and specific knowledge. For example, engineers, scientists, lawyers, doctors, and architects require specialized knowledge at their fingertips.