Learning Organizations:Start the Engines…

ALED 342ALEC 609

Dr. Chris TownsendTexas A&M University

??Now what??

http://aled.tamu.edu/342

Location of numerous class activities

Introductions

Form small groups of 6-7

Tell each other 1 thing that existed in your life that is now GONE or SOON TO BE GONE

Decide on the most interesting and be prepared to tell the class

What in the World…is a Learning Organization?

You enrolled for an education… BUT

Does Texas A&M do anything that frustrates you as you proceed toward graduation

????????????????? Ever wonder why things don’t change ??

What in the World…is a Learning Organization?

Who has ridden trains in Europe?

What is the difference between rail travel in Europe and in the U.S.?

What would have to change for you to travel by train in the U.S.?

The U.S. railroad industry is NOT a Learning Organization

Consider: the U. S

.

railroad in

dustry

Traditional Organizations

Stable environment Vertical structure Strategy formed at top Centralized decision

making Defined and

specialized tasks Rigid culture not

responsive to change Communication tied to

hierarchy (lots of filters)

What in the World…is a Learning Organization? Consider Wal-Mart Sam Walton looked at

competitors Did not repeat their mistakes “the key is to get out into

stores…our best ideas come from clerks and stock persons”

Wal-Mart is considered a Learning Organization

Learning Organizations

Changing environment Flat horizontal structure Strategy is collaborative effort Decentralized decision making Adaptive roles Adaptive culture: continuous

improvement Communication networks; no

filters

Think….

Write the name of a traditional organization

Write the name of a learning organization

Discuss in group and report best examples

Primary Points:

1. New Definition of Learning:

• Organizational learning is learning from experiences

Primary Points: 2. Competition benefits

• How well an organization learns = how well it competes

Examples ???

Primary Points:

3. Organizational learning ensures the existence of whole industries

Examples ???

Primary Points:

4. Many start-up companies spawned by learning that cannot be implemented

Examples ???

Learning Orgs. Summary

1. Encourage ___________ thinking.

2. Experimentation is ______________.

3. Provide incentives for ____________.

4. Build ________ for followers to ______.

5. Create _______ learning.

6. Allow people to _________ from their mistakes.

Learning Orgs. Summary

1. Encourage _CREATIVE_ thinking.

2. Experimentation is _ENCOURAGED_.

3. Provide incentives for __INNOVATION__.

4. Build _CONFIDENCE_ for followers to _ADAPT_.

5. Create _TEAM_ learning.

6. Allow people to _LEARN_ from their mistakes.