The Learning Organization: Concept and Application.

Abstract

As we approach the 21st century, we are entering into a new era in the history of mankind. The Industrial Age is giving way to the Information Age. The only thing certain about that future is that it will change, and it will present organizations with an ever-increasing rate of change. We are on the leading edge of a new era of dramatic transformation and change that will deeply affect our organizational structures. Only the so-called learning organizations, those that are able to continually transform themselves to better collect, manage, and use knowledge, will be able to thrive and prosper during these times of rapid change. This paper explores the five disciplines or skills that characterize a learning organization--systems thinking, personal mastery, mental models, shared vision, and team learning--and the leadership traits and competencies necessary to bring them into being. A highly successful governmental organization, the Seattle Engineer District, is then examined as a case-study of an organization that is on the path to becoming a learning organization.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 1997
Accession Number
ADA326355

Entities

People

  • Mike Rigsby

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Artillery
  • Best Practices
  • Climate Change
  • Commerce
  • Employment
  • Engineers
  • Executives
  • Management Personnel
  • New York
  • Organizational Structure
  • Personnel Management
  • Students
  • Teamwork
  • Training
  • United States
  • Universities
  • War Colleges

Readers

  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.
  • Systems Analysis and Design