> From: rbacal@escape.ca [SMTP:rbacal@escape.ca]
> Steve wrote:
> > >Do you think we on this LO list are such people: more interested in
> > >verbalizing about theories than in applying them?
> Richard replied:
>
> > Steve, from your tone, prior msgs, and off-list communication, I think
> > you are not just asking... I think you believe the LO list is guilty as
> > charged. Am I right in this interpretation? That's what comes through.
>I think you will find that only a very small percentage of posts have
> anything to do with getting things done in a real work environment. Most
> are philisophical, metaphoric and often do not map easily onto the world
> of the practitioner. (BTW, there's nothing wrong with that, just not my
> cup of tea).
[Bruce Jones] This is the type of knowledge I call metaphorical.
Knowledge about, as At would say, becoming. I do agree that a
practical, or concrete, knowledge sharing would be a welcome addition to
the list. I am new to LO thinking and to a systems shift that
decentralizes the traditional BOSS run endeavor, but I am learning based
on the discussions that have taken place here. This is a valuable
resource for theory and concept thinking and should be maintained as an
academic resource. However, I would like to see an occasional concrete
offering.
> Does this mean people aren't interested in applications? Well, we don't
> know since most people don't post.
[Bruce Jones] This may be due to the fact that, because of a sense
of awe at the complexity and the expertise of the persons contributing,
some feel they can learn but not contribute .... I am not shy and often
express my ignorance .... the way I learn.
> On occasion, I get asked about resources re: learning organizations, and I
>
> always hesitate mentioning this forum because I know the people asking are
> looking for help AT WORK.
[Bruce Jones] I go ahead and send them to this site and let them
decide if it is what they want.
> Sometimes I think that this list gives a skewed vision of what LO's are
> about, and the people that are interested in LO's, an innaccurate one, I
> hope, but it IS a concern.
[Bruce Jones] This is true.
> My personal reputation is on the line when I recommend something, and for
> someone who wants to know how to bring about an LO in their company, can I
> refer them to a list where one of the most common words used is entropy?
> Essentialities?
[Bruce Jones] Again this is the type of topic selection that makes
this list SO valuable to persons interested in LOs. How many
corporations, companies, people do you know that feel an LO is just
another way to gain power and micro-manage the employee? from this list a
true indication of the complexities of the thought process of an LO can be
gained. This is an LO list .... by practicing the tenets of LO here we
can educate and inform, mentor and nurture, build and expand, and above
all instigate a systems, thinking change.
My $0.02
Bruce Jones
Staff Development Specialist
Northwest Texas Healthcare Systems
Amarillo, Texas
brucej@nwths.com
http://www.geocities.com/capecanaveral/campus/7941
ftp://wtcis-web.wtamu.edu/bjones
--Bruce Jones <BruceJ@nwths.com>
Learning-org -- Hosted by Rick Karash <rkarash@karash.com> Public Dialog on Learning Organizations -- <http://www.learning-org.com>