Re: STIA - Arie de Geus Speech LO3128

Lindsey, Paul (PEL@ENG2.TRACOR.COM)
Tue, 10 Oct 95 10:28:00 PDT

Replying to LO2987 --

Michael McMaster wrote:
"At the risk of stretching a metaphor too far, the "flocking" is a
behavior that merely allows for the learning to transfer - it is not
designed specifically for it."

I also was appreciative of the vividness of the story, and the skill of
the teller. I wish I had as clear an illustration of each learning
element. We should distinguish whether this is a metaphor for individual
learning or organizational learning, the latter being the subject this
board is usually most concerned. I perceive it to be an illustration of
one of the behaviors necessary for organizational learning. Flocking
enables transfer of knowledge but certainly more is necessary for
completion of the learning cycle. I wonder if there was more to learn from
the Robin and the Tit-mouse study if we could observe more detail. Did
any Robin ever learn the behavior, perhaps by copying the Tit-mouse, but
only failed to propagate the learning in its native infrastructure? Did
the Tit-mouse learn by copying behavior, sort of an OJT, or was there
other communication or social influence? I hope the point was not lost in
de Geus' speech that job rotation, especially in upper management, was
part of Shell's culture. This enforced a transfer of experience
organizationally and seems to have avoided the dynasty syndrome.

--
Paul Lindsey
Tracor Aerospace
PEL@eng2.tracor.com
(512)929-2815