Nancy's orginal message said:
> People who are struggling to make ends meet, who may have
> other, more
> pressing problems will most likely not be too concerned about
> learning,
> about how effective or adaptive their organization is, about
> how connected
> they feel to their colleagues, etc. Organizations are filled
> with people
> doing the best they can to stay afloat.
As someone who works in an organization (manufacturing) and who has use LO
tools and methods for close to ten years, in many different cultures (read
communities of practice), I have to disagree. The people who are
struggling to make ends meet and who have "other pressing problems" love
the attention, the growth, the sense of community that comes from
practicing the five disciplines.
A few years back, one of my best spot welders found out that his wife had
left him and taken his beloved children with her. The organization
supported him, gave him time off to think, helped him through some rough
spots and he was an even better spot welder, problem solver, process
improver, and emerging leader. There are many other tales from the
factory floor. Connectedness is all important. It is why teams are so
effective in manufacturing, why community involvement can make the
spiritual dimension a part of the daily grind.
John Zavacki
--"John Zavacki" <jzavacki@greenapple.com>
Learning-org -- Hosted by Rick Karash <rkarash@karash.com> Public Dialog on Learning Organizations -- <http://www.learning-org.com>