I’m still puzzling over the idea of what if an organization isn’t learning. I realize it is easy for me to point to everything that is wrong at work, but I do worry that we’re not learning as an organization from this lay-off/change in leadership/evolving relationship with our partner. I thought Tim had a very good point that perhaps some organizations learn the “wrong” thing.
I think if we’re looking at an organization as a living, breathing being then we have to think about right and wrong learning. If I can make a negative meaning from this past year at work, then I’m sure others can and if we’re all making negative meaning, then wouldn’t it be logical to assume that our organization is learning the wrong thing?
Shouldn’t I and others start exploring the possibility that it was a good thing to pare down and become a smaller organization? Isn’t there something to be said for economizing and becoming more agile? Perhaps that’s the direction that should be taken at work, begin looking at this upheaval as a good thing. Something that we can use to our advantage.
Of course, this idea then runs smack into the wall of organizational culture. Is it enough to have one or two people shining a flashlight into the dark cave of change if no one else is following with the really big lamps? Something to chew on.
It was nice to see familiar faces and new ones in class last night. I have a feeling we’ll be learning some very valuable and practical skills this semester. Of course, I’m also excited about our embrace of technology this semester. I’m really looking forward to seeing everyone’s opinions about what we’re reading and discussing in class. I think we’re all about to experience a new level of understanding of our coursework.
I thought Organizational Learning got off to a good start the other night. I’m really thrilled that we’ll be using more technology this semester. I’ll try to keep my rampant enthusiasm for technology to a dull roar but this is really exciting.
As if the universe knew that school had started and I was enrolled in this class, I received an article from eLearn magazine in my inbox this afternoon called “Virtual teams: Making the online classroom a learning organization“. This article, as the title implies, discusses how to make an online class engaging to students and to foster the idea of an online class as a learning organization. The author of the article has several ideas on how to have students interact and learn as a team even though the students never meet face-to-face. I don’t know that his ideas are particularly earth-shattering–just a practical application of what the author knows about adult learning. With that practical application, I’m hooked.
I have been mulling over the idea of using collaborative space as a learning mechanism (just as we will use the wiki and these blogs) in the workplace. I have long preached this idea and someday I just know I’ll be heard. Or, I’ll move to an organization that is more like-minded (she smiles). I am pleased that a small team I’m working in this year is using a shared space and we’re really connecting with each other and the task at hand.
I am sure this class will give me more ideas to mull over and I’ll be able to expand my thinking. I’m feeling up to the challenge of the semester.
No new bookbags, no new pens, and same old ratty lunch box, but today is the first day of school. I’m excited to begin again and feel like the summer break was too short. I guess that’s the usual feeling when school starts up. At least I don’t have to ride a yellow school bus.
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