Augustine,
The compatibility of capitalism and the learning the organisation
isn't so much a non-issue as it is a fallacy. There is nothing
necessarily incompatible - many would validly argue that they go
together more naturally than any of the alternatives we know - with
the two.
There is a dichotomy here but has nothing in particular to do
with capitalism. It hasmore to do with our understanding of time
relationships and theories about learning, future value and
investment. (The socialist countries are not noted for their greater
emphasis on organisational learning.)
If the natural way of being for human beings is to learn, grow,
develop, then a system based in freedom is likely to prosper and to
be more natural to people. If it is not natural, then no system is
likely to work.
I am intentionally avoiding what you mean by capitalism. A narrow
definition may suggest that learning and "giving the major returns to
capital" are incompatible but this is a particularly limited view of
capitalism - and I would argue the conclusion even then. If we are
talking of a market-based system with competition within rules of
conduct, then I can't imagine a better place for a learning
organisation.
Michael McMaster : Michael@kbddean.demon.co.uk
book cafe site : http://www.vision-nest.com/BTBookCafe
Intelligence is the underlying organisational principle
of the universe. Heraclitus
--Michael McMaster <Michael@kbddean.demon.co.uk>
Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>