Replying to LO25621 --
A Korean colleague wrote to us about his question:
>So, in MIS textbook, I learned about LO (Learning Organization). I can
>understand what's the meaning of the LO just a little. But, it's not
>enough to me. So, if you don't mind, can you send the example about LO's
>application in company to me?
Although I do not have a specific example for you just yet, maybe I can
pass on an important lesson to you that I learned while helping my
organization to become a Learning Organization.
I find many people get mixed up between an organization that promotes
learning and a Learning Organization.
My organization has training benefits, which depend largely on position
e.g. a secretary will get one day to pursue a computer software course and
non-managerial staff member will get fourteen professional development
days. We have individual learning plans that ask us what we need to learn
to do our job better, which will be used, in conjunction with job
descriptions, to support requests for training benefits. We are looking at
developmental performance appraisals and how they can tie in with these
learning plans. We have an Intranet so management can provide staff with
easy access to corporate information.
But there is nothing in place so far that is specifically designed to
share information between people.
We do not actively promote or have communities of practice.
We have a team-based structure with minimal reporting relationships, but
which remains a cultural hierarchy.
We still work in silos with little to no interdepartmental
communication/collaboration
We do not have feedback loops in place between organizational levels.
We constantly send mixed messages to our staff, especially to our
administrative support. For example, we hold offices for mangers and non-
managers alike. But we have two secretaries sharing an 8 by 8 cubicle,
even though empty offices are nearby. Yet we say everyone¡¯s
work/health/learning, etc. is equally important.
As such, I feel that management is seeking to aggressively support/promote
individual learning, as long as it benefits the organization. But
management is not seeking (yet) to provide any support for community
learning. As such, we are nowhere close to becoming a Learning
Organization.
Hope this helps, at least a bit!
Peggy
--Peggy Stuart <pstuart@ctt.bc.ca>
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