[I think this message, distributed today to the LOlist, can be of interest to us. It also applies, I think, to virtual organizations. - Artur]
I would define a learning organization as one specifically designed to learn. When an individual or organization thinks it has "the answer," "the truth" about something, they are not asking questions. As a result, they are not open to or even able to learn something new. They already know the truth about the way it is. Only when someone operates out of not knowing can they ask questions, and learn. Thus, a learning organization is one that recognizes that there is no "the truth" about anything in business (or anyplace else for that matter). There is what works best today, but as circumstances change -- competition, customer needs and desires, employee attitudes, technology, etc. -- something different will be required tomorrow. A learning organization is one in which everyone operates out of questions (what's appropriate for today?), not out of answers (this is the "right" way to do anything). When I work with organizations, this is my assignment: to help all employees to question everything they think is the truth about their business, and operate out of questions on a daily basis. Regards, Morty -- Learning-org -- Hosted by Rick Karash <rich...@karash.com> Public Dialog on Learning Organizations -- <http://www.learning-org.com> * * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu Visit: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html =========================================================== osl...@egroups.com To subscribe, 1. Visit: http://www.egroups.com/group/oslist 2. Sign up -- provide an email address, and choose a login ID and password 3. Click on "Subscribe" and follow the instructions To unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@egroups.com: 1. Visit: http://www.egroups.com/group/oslist 2. Sign in and Proceed