Replying to LO27955 --
Dear Organlearners,
Ross Wirth <RWIRTH@citgo.com> writes:
>Over the last couple of years I have seen a number
>of journal articles and web sites that address the
>organizational benefits from developing a learning
>organization. However, I have not seen any concise
>statement of what is in it for the organization's members.
>Has anyone prepared or know of such a list? I can
>see many uses for such a document and have a few
>ideas already, but I did not want to reinvent the entire
>effort if someone already had this in hand.
Greetings dear Ross,
Your question is related to another issue which occupies my mind for
several weeks. Beyond the northen border of our country is Zimbabwe with
Mr Robert Mugabe as its president. You probably had a lot of news lately
on the presidential election there.
Let us compare Mugabe with our late President Nelson Mandela. Both were
freedom fighters of the simular age and in the same era. Mandela had to
spend more than 20 years in jail where he had a lot of time to think.
Mugabe spent his years in the bush fighting the white regime. Both
eventually became presidents, Mugabe only much sooner. As president Mugabe
became gradually more autocratic so that by now he is acting like a
dictator. As president Mandela became more loved and respected by all in
our country. He retired with grace. So what made the difference?
One of the reasons is directly related to your question. To every person's
surprise, after becoming president, Mandela began to consult leaders from
all walks of our very diverse society. He also made special efforts to
consult (what is called here) the "grass roots people" themselves. He did
not use his own knowledge and will to lead, but sought in the knowledge
and will of his fellow country people what the future had to become. He
did his best to encourage young and old to begin with a culture of
learning and to seek knowledge.
Mugabe, on the other hand, began to surround him more and more with
sidekicks. When he did consult others, it was often the rich who would
assist him financially in the next election. He gradually became ignorant
of the sufferings of ordinary people, their poverty, hunger and ill
health. To keep them under control, he gave them permision and even
encourage them to loot farms and industries who still kept the wheels of
the country running. He was very fortunate to have studied in South
Africa. Now he considers any Zimbabwian studying elsewhere as a potential
enemy of the state.
Perhaps in an Ordinary Organistion
>It all starts with "What is in it for me?"
But in a Learning Organisation
it all starts with "What do you want in it?"
When the leader self (like Mugabe) begin to ask "What is in it for me?"
a dictatorship is looming. But when the leader self (like Mandela)
begin to ask "What do you want in it?" old wounds begin to heal.
With care and best wishes
--At de Lange <amdelange@gold.up.ac.za> Snailmail: A M de Lange Gold Fields Computer Centre Faculty of Science - University of Pretoria Pretoria 0001 - Rep of South Africa
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