We must apply charity – caritas – in our approach to IT. IT is instrumental in shaping the relationship we have with our fellow human beings. The fears that IT might isolate people are offset by the experience of virtual communities becoming myriad real social networks and relationships. One example is Internet dating. Companies are well-advised to put their relationships with their employees on a new footing. Partnership and respect is the name of the game.

That is the only guarantee for optimum success in keeping knowledge and skills in the company and making the best possible use out of them. Sales employees in the company have to be able to rely on a new culture of collaboration that respects their personal accountability while giving them access to information from other functional units such as Marketing or Support.