I read the Fifth Discipline Fieldbook about 6 months ago. I can't think of
a single book that has had such an impact on me. I've also read a number
of other books mentioned in the fieldbook. My experience with the
learning organization (LO) concepts comes from my reading and several
recent activities at work. The first activity is a systems thinking pilot
class I started about 2 months ago. I'm using the 5th D. fieldbook,
Archetypes I and II, and the Systems One book as text books. lThe team
consists of 15 members from the first 5 levels of management (including 2
general managers) and technical personnel. We're currently working a
small issue and have recently developed our first set of causal loop
diagrams. Our intent is to "arm" the two general managers with systems
thinking capabilities so they begin to introduce the techniques into
higher management circles.
The second activity I'm involved in is teaching new managers about the
L.O. concepts as part of the New Manager Training Modules that Training
and Development (I like Transformation and Discovery better) is currently
teaching. The LO module we've put together is one of 10 modules that new
managers go through.
Finally, I'm working on incorporating a systems thinking module into the
soon to be started,1 year long, Systems Engineering Training Program
offered by the company.
Questions I have include the following:
1) Has anyone tried using the systems thinking tools to do technical
work? We've been able to identify and use it on management
issues but it's been hard to do the same on technical issues.
2) I'd like to know how other people are doing in getting LO concepts
across to upper management. We (myself and a few other
dedicated hardheads)
In closing, I'm also curious about other peoples efforts to integrate LO
concepts into their organization. What has worked? What hasn't? If any
of you are in Training and Development, how have your colleagues responded
to the LO concepts? What kinds of programs are you devising?
Well, I think that's enough for now. I'm looking forward to tapping into
this network of fellow LO builders. Bye for now.
Steve Presley
Yoda38@aol.com