bruce, referring to your first point concerning the lack of discussion
about the role of unions in learning organization development. Exactly
the same point is made by Karen Ross in a 1992 article (in the UK Training
and Development if I remember correctly), in her review of the then
current LO literature, where she points out that other existing groups in
organizations seem to be conveniently forgotten by the LO gurus. Whether
this was because the US writers were part of a culture where union
activity is less readily acceptable than other nations, particularly
Australia, is possibly a plausible explanation. However, on the other
hand, if you read the FIFTH DISCIPLINE FIELDBOOK, you will see a case
study on the use of dialogue techniques in improving traditionally poor
relations between maanagement and unions at a steelworks in the USA, so
maybe, the role of unions in LOs is becoming the next area of LO study.
If you have any thoughts on the above, drop me a line.
-- Andrew Rowe (adrowe@essex.ac.uk)