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Theory and Practice of Organizational Learning

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Theory and Practice of Organizational Learning
Teresa Friskney
Strayer University Theory and Practice of Organizational Learning Organizational learning explores ways to design organizations so that they carry out their function successfully, encourage people to reach their full potential, and, at the same time, help the world to be a better place. Learning organizations are organizations where people continually expand their capacity to create the results they truly desire, where new and expansive patterns of thinking are nurtured, where collective aspiration is set free, and where people are continually learning to see the whole together (Smith, 2001). However, there seems no clear definition of organizational learning except for the fact that it is learning, in one form or another. “Organizational learning is a flexible concept spanning a number of disciplines and perspectives so that it is now impossible to capture with a single definition” (Merriam, Caffarella, & Baumgartner, 2007, p. 43). For the purpose of this paper, the following information concerns only three characteristics of a successful learning organization. Discussion concerns systems thinking, shared vision, and team learning. In order to understand systems thinking, one must define it as a group of interacting, interrelated, and interdependent components that form a complex and unified whole. For example, a system can be a department in an organization. Each system has a purpose in a larger system. System thinking allows for communication, putting things into perspective, and seeing things as a whole (Argyris, 1999). Most organizations rely on a shared vision. If not, the organization will surely fail. A shared vision represents the individual vision of each member of the organization. The best example concerning a shared vision is to outdo the competition. Peter Senge suggests that there should also be long term goals that are intrinsic within the company (Senge, 1990). Team learning is the transmission of knowledge throughout the group. Sharing knowledge also allows faster learning throughout the group, or organization. Each member brings their know-how to the table, which allows the ability to fix situations, as well. When team learning occurs, the exploration of issues can be done at a more complex level. Considering best characteristics, having a shared vision sets the organization up for success. Staying in that focus allows all of the other characteristics to sort of fall into place. Working toward one goal keeps that focus. Referring again to system thinking, consider coupling that with a shared vision. Smaller groups working together and then coming together as a whole entity, which would be the organization, to get to the end result of success. This would prove to be an effective method of practice for organizational learning. References
Argyris, C. 1999. On Organizational Learning. 2nd Ed. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing.
Merriam, S.B., Caffarella, R.S., & Baumgartner, L.M. (2007). Learning in Adulthood
(3rd ed.). San Francisco, CA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc..
Senge, P.M. (1990). The fifth discipline: The art and practice of the learning organization. New York: Doubleday.
Smith, M. K. (2001) 'The learning organization', the encyclopedia of informal education, http://www.infed.org/biblio/learning-organization.htm.

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