This publication is part of the study materials for the distance education course, The Changing Workplace: Part B, in the Open Campus Program at Deakin University. The first part of the document constructs a framework for exploring the concept of the workplace as a learning environment that is in fact the primary school for adult learning and development. The following topics are discussed: the educative function of work and the work environment; work as curricular structure (the rise of the Taylorist curriculum for work, Braverman and the deskilling controversy, and three approaches to work in postindustrial society); and work as a context for adult development and learning (work and personality formation and creating the educative workplace). The bibliography contains 108 references. The following papers constitute approximately 50% of the document: "Scientific Management" (H. Braverman); "On the Degradation of Skills" (W. Form); "Dilemmas of Transformation in the Age of the Smart Machine" (S. Zuboff); and "Learning, Empowerment and Participative Work Processes: The Educative Work Environment" (H. Kornbluh, R. Greene). The document contains a 10-item annotated bibliography. (MN)