Types of learning LO7275

Dave Birren, MB-5, 608-267-2442 (BIRRED@dnr.state.wi.us)
Mon, 6 May 1996 09:26 CST

Responding to Tony DiBella in Types of learning LO7192:

In replying to Types of learning LO7159 and LO7133, Tony said:

>Organizational learning style is not an extension of the learning styles
>of individuals. Individual learning styles are a juxtaposition or
>matrixing of characteristics or dimensions of individual level learning,
>much like NTs and STs are personality styles based on the Myer-Briggs four
>dimensions to personality. To identify learning styles of organization
>first requires the identification and then matrixing of dimensions of
>learning as a collective/organizational undertaking.

In my college days when I was studying international relations, it
occurred to me that countries normally behave at the lower levels of
Maslow's hierarchy. When countries (or nations - boundaries don't always
matter) act at the middle and higher levels, it's in a setting where
lower-level needs are not active, or have been satisfied. I could offer a
few observations, but in the interest of brevity I'll assume that the rest
of us can do that for ourselves.

I see no reason to believe that organizations smaller than countries
should behave any differently, and in fact I see the above proposition
borne out by organizations of all sizes and types.

My conclusion from this is that the nature of organizational learning is
contingent on culture. We say that teams can be smarter than their
members, but I haven't often seen that. They tend to be less intelligent,
less mature, and a lot less secure. I'd also say that the larger and more
complex an organization becomes, the more likely it is to operate at the
lowest level.

I'm not going to try to matricize the variables associated with this
theory, except to note a possible relationship between size/complexity and
security needs. Instead, I offer this little model to anyone who thinks
it's worth looking into.

Dave

-- 

David E. Birren Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources birred@dnr.state.wi.us Phone 608-267-2442 Fax 608-267-3579

* ** *** There is no excuse for being uncivilized. ( D.H.Birren) *** ** *

Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>