The role of professional and local-personal networks as a source of knowledge development in the new knowledge-based economy was examined in a 15-month study that focuses on people working in the multimedia industry in Montreal, Quebec. The study focused on the modes of exchange and learning, collaborative work, and management and development of knowledge within firms through exchanges between workers. Of the approximately 50 firms contacted, 18 agreed to participate in the study. Sixty open-ended interviews (48 with workers and 12 with employers or managers) were conducted. The interview responses were analyzed within the contexts of the concepts of collective competence and communities of practice. The interviews established that collaborative work, teamwork, and knowledge sharing have become normal in multimedia firms. The perceptions and values of the workers interviewed appeared to counter those of the traditional tayloristic vision of work, which assumes a strong division of labor and little if any exchange between workers. Most interviewees were ready to share information, often without expecting anything in return, and most enjoyed teamwork. Many firms used capacity to work in a group as a selection criterion when hiring employees. The managers reported looking for complementary specializations within teams. (Contains 46 references.) (MN)