Road construction projects, on the other hand, seem to be more like on-the-job learning.

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One factor that the study quantifies is human-capital endowment, meaning the brainpower created by parents, formal education and training, and on-the-job learning.

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The key to success then is not to provide a lot of formal training, but rather create an environment that supports rapid on-the-job learning.

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Now 52, at that time he had been in the firm for about five years and had worked on the shopfloor, learning every job that went into the making of luxury shoes.

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But I will be learning on the job and in the classroom, where I will pick up ideas to share.

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He is still learning on the job.

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When he showed up on the first day he spent a great deal of time learning from the person whose job he was taking.

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But like any employee taking on a new assignment, a big part of the job is just learning where stuff is stowed.

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For most folks, this means managing a career effectively: finding the right job, learning how to ask for a raise, and so on.

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