Larry T. Erdman wrote:
>I am employed at a 2-year college. As an organization we have actively
>been involved in introducing the concept of quality into the
>organization. Our President now wants to move the institution in a new
>direction. He feels that it is time to introduce the concept of the
>learning organization. He knows that it is an area of some interest for
>me and has asked for some suggestions.
Larry, if an organization is involved in a quality and continuous process
such as taught by Dr. W. Edwards Deming, my perception is that you are
already on the learning organization path. The concepts and tools
associated with learning organizations would certainly compliment and add
value to solid approaches to quality. However, this sounds like a flavor
of the month approach from top management?
>Some might think that the LO concept an academics would be a natural fit
>but I see and uphill battle. The academic environment is one in which
>there are many traditions and some degree of conservative thinking.
Your environment is tough; however, not unique to your college or
education in general. Some of the potential barriers are: (1) an
institutional focus on knowing, teaching and performing, not learning, (2)
lack of constancy of purpose and direction by top management, (3) a focus
on coercion and control of students instead of learning to manage
intrinsic motivation and (4) the academic arena itself which tends to
operate as a closed system and creates a great deal of entrophy.
If one cannot make some progress in dealing with barriers 1 and 2, my
experience indicates that your efforts will be doomed. Can these 2 items
even be discussed openly in an environment of dialogue?
I would be glad to continue this conversation up front or off line.
Best Regards,
Jim McAbee (jimmc@emeraldis.com)
An education is what is left when you can no longer recall most of the
facts.
The Learning Connection: http://www.emeraldis.com/~jimmc
--Jim McAbee <jimmc@emeraldis.com>
Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>