Back in 1991, my Company's (about 7500 employees) CEO/President had a
brainchild. He wanted to transform the organization from a utility that
thought the world was great, the ratepayers would pay anything, etc,
etc, etc. For the most part employees only knew their specialty and
sometimes that was questionable.
The CEO/President gained the support of the Board of Directors and then
began the ardous task of enlisted the support of his direct reports.
This effort rolled down and across the chain of command.
The Company spent millions of dollars sequestering the management staff
(also some frontline and community business leaders) in a hotel for a
week and sharing learning experiences. At the same time the Company
spent another million or two bringing together frontline employees to
learn the concept and techniques of continuus improvement and sharing
learning.
After the initial sequestering, the Company held one and two day
sessions with management and nonmanagement personnel to explore ways to
compete in a free market place (electric utilities were beginning to
become concerned about competing with other electric providers).
The next phase was to sequester management and some nonmanagement
personnel for a week (about 50 at a time) to reengineer processes.
Meanwhile reengineering was taking place throughout the Company.
We are a learning organization. I have studied Peter Senge. What we
have done and what we are doing is described within the paradigm of a
Learning Organization.
Is everything idealistic like it is in the book? No. Did Senge expect
it to be? No. Do we consider ourselves to be a Learning Organization?
Yes.
Something that we all must keep in mind, regardless of what utopia we
desire - is that a Company is in business for a reason. Typically that
reason is to make money for the owner(s). The vision of $$$$$$$ is
made possible through a mission (producing products and services that
people will pay more for than competitors). The mission of products
and services is made possible through achieving goals.
To shorten things up a little: If I own a business, it must made a
profit that meets my desires or needs. The employees must do whatever
is necessary for that to happen. If the employees choose not to do
what is neecessary they will end up working for someone else either
because they do not like my business or because they put me out of
business. I as the owner or management must ensure there is adequate
sharing, learning, sharing, learning to stay in business. The employee
must ensure there is adequate participation to keep me in business.
-- carold.whisnant@astd.noli.com