This study focuses on the prerequisites for successful communication and collaborative learning in a large multinational company experienced by human resource development (HRD) practitioners, who participated in a cross-cultural e-learning course. The participants were Finnish and Chinese employees, who used an asynchronous Web-based tool to study adult education in a virtual university course. The Web discussions of the one-year university course were used as material for this study. The discussions were anlaysed by the phenomenographic method. On the basis of the analysis three main themes concerning communication and collaboration at work could be identified: (1) prerequisites for collaborative activities; (2) cultural differences; and (3) the role of management. This paper discusses the implications of these aspects for the development of e-learning solutions for professional and organizational development. (Contains 14 references.) (Author)