Re: The Learning Organization Structure

K.C. Burgess Yakemovic (kcby@netcom.com)
Mon, 14 Nov 1994 08:35:42 -0800 (PST)

>
> I think "unlearning" is both a process of breaking with the past,
> discarding the rituals and hymnals of the past, and creating a useful
> transition in behaviours and expectations to the new condition. Without
> such a transition and without it being successfully achieved (very rare
> in my experience) you have in organizations pockets of old practices,
> sometimes reflecting multiple previous experiences with attempts at
> change, each of which is operative influential in its own microsphere.
> Mikeg

This comment reminded me of something I once read about religion. It
seems that people often discard the religion of their youth as they become
adults. But if they don't replace it with a new set of religious
practices, when some crisis occurs, they will invariably revert to the
practices of their childhood.

I think the concentration / effort required to establish a complete set
of new rituals in the corporate environment is often underestimated.

Perhaps that is good.. for without the underestimation, maybe no one
would _try_ to change!

BTW, a bit of personal opinion. A learning organization must be made of
learning people. We know precious little about how to motivate learning
in individuals. We can lead a horse to water, but we can't make it drink.

Of course I'm willing to change my opinion... :-)

-- kcby
KC Burgess Yakemovic
Group Performance Systems Inc. phone / fax: 404-395-0282
4776 Village North Court email : kcby@netcom.com
Atlanta GA 30338 USA