Re: Fruits of Learning LO1470

Barry Mallis (barry_mallis@powershare.markem.com)
1 Jun 1995 12:50:22 -0400

Replying to LO1428 --

Johanna, in replying to LO1418, states that she doesn't know how to
measure results.

To her comment I would add that I don't yet see in all the words we've
typed, what the day to day manifestations of the learning organization
are. Can someone generate a list of a half dozen activities directly,
explicitly tied to this still foggy (in practice) concept?

I suppose I could name a variety of learning vehicles at my company, most
all related to the deployment and use of total quality tools, which
clearly involve organizational learning to some degreee or other. Do they
count? Do the small transformations in individuals and in their groups
belong in the category of learning organization "objects" or items?

To anwser my own question, I'd say so at this point. There are drivers in
the company, people who make conscious decisions to implement and deploy
on a just-in-time basis those practices which assist the company in making
money, aide the employees in creating more productive working
envinroments.

To get back to Johanna's statement about measurement of results, there
most certainly are explicit ways to measure results. By collecting
qualitative and quantitative data during the investigative stage of
process improvement, individuals and groups of people set a standard or
line in the sand or benchmark by which to measure results of improvement
work.

Have I missed the mark totally here as to what learning organizations are
all about? I'm I too real-world here compared with the level of
abstraction at which many threads are being drawn along in this group of
idea people?

Ideas have a role to inform action. Continued and unending exploration of
ideas is critical. But we also have to ask "where's the beef?"

Thanks for your stimulating posting, Johanna.

--
Barry Mallis                               "The world is the closed door.
Total Quality Resource Manager     It is the barrier.  And
MARKEM Corporation                  at the same time it is
Keene, NH 03431                          the way through."
bmallis@markem.com