Re: Gossip LO361

Michael B Elmes (mbelmes@WPI.EDU)
Wed, 8 Mar 1995 10:25:02 -0500 (EST)

Replying to LO350 --

I would contend that it is impossible to talk about organizational
learning without starting with gossip. Small talk in everyday encounters
is how people and groups of people make sense of organizational issues and
activities. That to me is learning. To suggest that organizations would
learn better if gossip could somehow be exorcised is like saying that your
car would run more quietly if you could just remove the engine. Besides,
what is do bad about resistance? Isn't there a lot of wisdom in
resistance?

Mike Elmes
mbelmes@wpi.edu