Since the mid-90s, many educational and training programmes integrating information and communication technologies (ICT) have been undertaken in France. The process was officially launched in 1997 through the implementation of the Government Action Plan for the Information Society. These initiatives are based on encouraging the use of the new possibilities offered by the ICT technologies to all categories of individuals in terms of electronic access to information and learning at school, at home and in the work place. As a result, France has witnessed during the last years a significant development of e-learning technologies and practices within VET-provision institutions, universities and enterprises. In this context, the paper is an exploration of the development of work-related e-learning practices within the enterprises in France (from the perspectives of the enterprises and their employees). It is based on a more recent resource-data base (2001-2003) created through a quantitative and qualitative investigation, conducted each year by OFEM (Observatoire de la Formation et l'EMploi) and "Le Préau" (animator of e-learning community) of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI-Paris). The analysis of this resource-data base, allowed for the identification of some basic issues and trends connected with the introduction and development of e-learning technologies and practices within the enterprise, namely:

• From the enterprise's perspective, e-learning allows for cost reduction, efficient use of resources, time and training. The basic challenges for it to be efficient in the "e-learning economy" are dependent on its capacity to adapt to competition and change, to innovate, to capitalise, update, and share accumulated knowledge and competencies.
• From the employee's perspective, e-learning has the advantage of promoting flexibility, autonomy and individualisation of learning paths.
• Although e-learning is basically practised by large companies, its use is observed to be increasing within the SMEs. However, e-learning practice is still in favour of qualified executives and holders of top and middle management positions, especially within the SMEs.