The Learning Organization

continuously transforming itself continuously transforming itself able to be nimble, flexible, adaptive to a constantly changing environment able to be nimble, flexible, adaptive to a constantly changing environment uses an interconnected way of thinking; people continually learning to see the whole together uses an interconnected way of thinking; people continually learning to see the whole together grounded in member commitment to the shared vision; a sense of being part of something larger than themselves; belonging; mattering grounded in member commitment to the shared vision; a sense of being part of something larger than themselves; belonging; mattering people continually expand their capacity to create the results they desire and better understand their purposes people continually expand their capacity to create the results they desire and better understand their purposes learning is seen as a process, not an event learning is seen as a process, not an event

Peter Senge M.I.T. Management and social systems modeling Management and social systems modeling Decentralizing the role of leadership to enhance the capacity of all people to work productively toward common goals Decentralizing the role of leadership to enhance the capacity of all people to work productively toward common goals Believes real learning gets to the heart of what it means to be human – we become able to re-create ourselves. This applies to organizations as well.

Learning Adaptive learning Adaptive learning Expanding our ability to respond to changing environment Expanding our ability to respond to changing environment Generative learning Generative learning Learning that enhances our capacity to create Learning that enhances our capacity to create A shift in seeing people not as reactive to their reality, but as shaping their reality. Able to create their future.

Features of Learning Organizations Systems Thinking Systems Thinking Personal Mastery Personal Mastery Mental Models Mental Models Shared Vision Shared Vision Team Learning Team Learning

Systems Thinking Being able to see the organization as a system of interrelationships rather than isolated parts. Being able to see the organization as a system of interrelationships rather than isolated parts. Being able to understand and address the whole and to examine the relationships between the parts and the whole. Being able to understand and address the whole and to examine the relationships between the parts and the whole. Today’s problems come from yesterday’s solutions Today’s problems come from yesterday’s solutions

Systems Thinking Choose a social issue Choose a social issue Create a mind-map that shows the systemic nature of the problem. Create a mind-map that shows the systemic nature of the problem. Illustrate causes Illustrate causes Illustrate effects Illustrate effects

Personal Mastery An individual commitment to lifelong learning, and learning to see reality objectively and systemically An individual commitment to lifelong learning, and learning to see reality objectively and systemically An organizational culture that encourages the growth of all group members, rather than seeing them as “finished.” An organizational culture that encourages the growth of all group members, rather than seeing them as “finished.” People in the group are living in continual learning mode. They never “arrive.” People in the group are living in continual learning mode. They never “arrive.”

Mental Models Deeply held assumptions and generalizations that influence how we understand the world and how we take action. Deeply held assumptions and generalizations that influence how we understand the world and how we take action. Learning to identify our mental models, become aware of them so they can be scrutinized. Learning to identify our mental models, become aware of them so they can be scrutinized. Learning isn’t hard. Unlearning what we already “know” is incredibly difficult. Learning isn’t hard. Unlearning what we already “know” is incredibly difficult.

What shape do you see?

Mental Models We are unlikely to discover when it is our mental models that cause us to make errors. We are unlikely to discover when it is our mental models that cause us to make errors. Organizational culture often presses toward conformity and group think Organizational culture often presses toward conformity and group think What are the barriers in organizations to recognizing assumptions and questioning them? What can you do to create an organizational culture that identifies and questions its assumptions?

Shared Vision Creating a shared picture of the future we seek to create, binding people together around a common identity and sense of destiny. Creating a shared picture of the future we seek to create, binding people together around a common identity and sense of destiny. Fostering genuine commitment to a shared vision, rather than compliance Fostering genuine commitment to a shared vision, rather than compliance Examples? When have you truly felt part of a shared vision? How did the group get there?

Team Learning Involves dialogue and the capacity of members of a team to suspend assumptions and enter into a genuine “thinking together.” Involves dialogue and the capacity of members of a team to suspend assumptions and enter into a genuine “thinking together.” Dialogue: free-flowing of meaning to discover insights not attainable individually Dialogue: free-flowing of meaning to discover insights not attainable individually NOT Discussion: heaving ideas back and forth competitively NOT Discussion: heaving ideas back and forth competitively Recognizing patterns of interaction in teams that undermine learning (defensiveness, competitiveness, etc.) Recognizing patterns of interaction in teams that undermine learning (defensiveness, competitiveness, etc.)

Challenges to Creating a Learning Organization Fragmentation Fragmentation Problems are broken into pieces and considered separately (budgeting, technology, marketing..) Problems are broken into pieces and considered separately (budgeting, technology, marketing..) Competitiveness Competitiveness Members try to out do each other rather than collaborating Members try to out do each other rather than collaborating Reactiveness Reactiveness Organizational change only occurs in response to external forces rather than a spirit of continual creating Organizational change only occurs in response to external forces rather than a spirit of continual creating

New beliefs about Change Change starts small and grows organically Change starts small and grows organically Change is only sustainable if it involves learning Change is only sustainable if it involves learning Develop the mindset of conducting experiments – an inquiry approach. Try multiple strategies and take intentional time to reflect on the lessons learned from them. Develop the mindset of conducting experiments – an inquiry approach. Try multiple strategies and take intentional time to reflect on the lessons learned from them. Pilot groups are incubators for change Pilot groups are incubators for change

The new role of Leaders Old view: leader sets the direction, makes the decisions, and energizes the troops. Old view: leader sets the direction, makes the decisions, and energizes the troops. New view: New view: Designers – creating a space for individual and tea learning, shared vision, questioning of assumptions and systems thinking Designers – creating a space for individual and tea learning, shared vision, questioning of assumptions and systems thinking Stewards - shaping the narrative, holding the larger story of the organization, holding the vision Stewards - shaping the narrative, holding the larger story of the organization, holding the vision Teachers – focusing attention, defining reality in a systemic way, and helping members truly understand how to think this way Teachers – focusing attention, defining reality in a systemic way, and helping members truly understand how to think this way

Not a New Idea? Lao-tzu: Lao-tzu: The bad leader is he who the people despise The bad leader is he who the people despise The good leader is he who the people praise The good leader is he who the people praise The great leader is he who the people say “we did it ourselves” The great leader is he who the people say “we did it ourselves”

Misunderstanding of Learning Organizations “We are a learning organization, we fund professional development and on-going employee training.” Systems Thinking Systems Thinking Personal Mastery Personal Mastery Mental Models Mental Models Shared Vision Shared Vision Team Learning Team Learning

Senge, Peter M. (1990). The Fifth Discipline: The art & practice of the learning organization. Doubleday. Senge, Peter M. (1990). The Fifth Discipline: The art & practice of the learning organization. Doubleday. National Leadership Symposium, National Leadership Symposium, George Roth, (2006). Personal Communication George Roth, (2006). Personal Communication