What an exciting electronic forum to find in cyberspace. I found out
about the learning-org forum by browsing the web and querying a search
engine for "learning organizations."
I am a husband, father of six children, ages 23 to 9 (5 girls and one
boy), Business Systems Consultant for AT&T GIS, and a full-time student in
the Master of Arts in Conflict Resolution curriculum at Antioch
University. Fascinated that organizations have "a life of their own," I
am intrigued by and have studied my own for the last five years. During
that time, the company has been acquired, had its name changed, been
through 3 CEO's (our fourth arrived in April), expanded our focus,
increased market share, decreased profit, been downsized and told we will
be split from our parent company the same day.
The principles of Peter Senge's Fifth Discipline are what keeps me going.
I am an optimist and a futurist. I could be one of the heretics of which
Art Kleiner is writing about. We have a golden opportunity to re-define
the corporations of tomorrow. I gladly accept the challenge.
I look forward to many interesting exchanges.
Thanks for having me.
-- Chris Michel chris.michel@daytonoh.attgis.com