portfolios in the business world

I have been working with a couple of teachers over the past few years on implementing e-portfolios. Before that, I know of a few more teachers who researched it and even chose a product to implement.

So why are schools not adopting the use of portfolios? Why is it taking so long to implement? Are they really a good idea?

That's my question. I want to research what businesses do. I was fortunate to be able to go on a field study with our middle school charter teacher and a few of her students to a corporate office in the retail industry. As the fashion buyer for the corporation was talking to the girls, she was showing them lines of clothing from designers - a portfolio of work. And then she explained how she had to pull together a budget report for her boss.

What occurred to me was that she was constantly putting together a portfolio of her work. It was a high accountability position so something she was doing must be right to prove to her boss that she was getting the job done and not only that, getting the job done well.

So what I would like to do is work with a teacher who is very interested in portfolios - and her students - and go on a few field studies to find out how they put their portfolios together.

My goal is to help students understand the value of creating a portfolio of work and how to effectively put one together.

What affects the quality of work in the portfolio?
What makes a good portfolio?
How are portfolios managed in a business?
Do business portfolios and educational portfolios have anything in common at all?

Hope to find out!