Def. of Learning Org LO4185

pcapper@actrix.gen.nz
Mon, 11 Dec 1995 22:14:49 +1300

Replying to LO4177 --

Rol wrote:

"However, if there is not some central essence that is replicable, then
we have no hope of inculcating the positive aspects of LO or teams in new
situations.

"The question is, while celebrating the variability of individuals and of
teams, can we learn the central essence of what makes some successful and
others fail, and can we learn to use that knowledge to make future
individuals, organizations, or teams successful."

I agree to a point. The problem lies in reification. Originally we had a
concept - organisational learning - which described dynamic processes. Now
we are seeking to define a THING - a learning organisation.

In my view there is no such cloneable 'thing' as an LO. There is only a
diverse range of organisational forms which have been determined by the
application of an array of dynamic processes whose utility is that they
allow the organisations applying them to function effectively in pursuit
of their missions whilst adhering to principled values in conditions of
uncertainty and rapid change.

Seeking to understand the dynamic processes is useful, and allows us to
discern how we might help the organisations we work with to make their own
unique journey. But to attempt to replicate that thing in those buildings
over there which has been dubbed 'a learning organisation' is to pin the
butterfly to the card and destroy it.

That is one of the problems with benchmarking, unless we are very careful
only to benchmark processes,

Phillip Capper
WEB Research
Wellington
New Zealand

--
pcapper@actrix.gen.nz