Orgpsych@csra.net wrote, among other things:
> If LO principles and wholistic, systemic thinking
> becomes the norm and we begin to learn at the organizational level,
> doesn't that constitute a change in the organization such that a
> system other than pure capitalism is then operating? If this is so,
> then, isn't LO a means to that end?
Pure capitalism is not operating now, but assuming that you are referring
to capitalism as it exists in 1996, I think the answer is a qualified yes.
For example, if we look at the history of capitalism and the industrial
revolution, we see that it got off to a very rocky start but has
substantially improved over the last 150 years. The bread riots of London
are a good example. Bakers would raise their prices -- basically gouging
their customers -- until resentment reached the breaking point, and then
bread riots occured, prices dropped, and bread riots stopped. I know this
is a very simpliefied view, but it is essentiall;y correct.
Likewise, child labor has decreased in the more advanced industrial
countries. Hours are down from 12+ to 8-. Working conditions are far
better. Benefits exist. Education is encouraged -- lack of it is
sometimes bemoaned. Assembly line work has diminished.
Learning has been occurring, and has been a component of improvements in
all of these areas. Employees are treated by far better than they ever
were in the past. It is true that government and legislation has hastened
the process, and pushed it farther than it would be otherwise. However,
it also true that modern businesses do not wish to go back, either.
Is everything just wonderful? No, not in life, not in government, and not
in capitalism.
Over the years, capitalists have come to value labor and customers a great
deal more than they did in the early years, and with more learning, they
may -- probably will -- come to value labor and customers even more.
Does this mean, however, that capitalism is no longer operating? Hard to
say. Today's capitalism is hardly recognizable from the lens of an 1800
capitalist. More change will occur, but my guess is we will still call it
capitalism.
--Rol Fessenden LL Bean, Inc. 76234.3636@compuserve.com
Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>