Bringing About a Military Learning Organization the US Army in the Philippine War, 1899-1902.
Abstract
Through learning and enhanced capacity to learn faster than its adversaries, a military organization increases its chances for success within an increasing complex and chaotic environment. The complex and chaotic nature of military conflicts requires a reliable strategy for success. Based on systems theory, non-linearity, and chaos, the concept of learning organization confronts the complexity of military operations with great efficiency and effectiveness. This monograph recommends the key to surviving and prospering within the spectrum of military operations is to internalize and practice the five learning disciplines. Dr. Peter Senge introduces in his book The Fifth Discipline, five learning disciplines known as the discipline of systems thinking, personal mastery, shared vision, mental models, and team learning. From Dr. Senge's concept of learning organization, this study proposes that the internalization and practice of these disciplines by a military organization facilitates the bringing about a military learning organization. A military learning organization is an organization composed of people who are able to enhance their capacity to learn and create a desired result. To merely adapt in a military conflict is not enough to achieve success. A military organization must both achieve adaptive and generative learning to survive and prosper in a complex and chaotic military operations. Adaptive and generative learning are achieved through the internalization and practice of the five learning disciplines. By presenting leaning organization concept as the key to military success, this study examines the influential effects of the five disciplines on military outcomes using a historical example.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 18, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADA383682
Entities
People
- Madelfia A. Abb
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College