>Replying to LO14734 -- where Doc wrote:
>I don't understand "unlearning."...(I'm supposing that
>this is the basis for unlearning), then must I unlearn the lessons (as one
>must untie the rope to avoid cutting it!).
As others have indicated, we had a lengthy conversation on this before,
and I still stand on the side that believes an "unlearning " process must
sometimes take place.
But I like the mental image offered here--if I tied a knot that isn't
going to work for my application, or more correctly, tied a knot that no
longer will serve the application, I have to untie the knot before I can
tie another--more effective--knot. (Unless of course, we just cut the
rope and start over.)
Unlearning isn't required for all, or even most, situations when new
knowledge overwrites the old. But there are those cases, especially where
organizational behaviors are based on a structure of cutural assumptions,
values, beliefs, and experiences, that the knot must be untied, where the
assumptions, values, beliefs, principles, experiences, etc., need to be
revisited, revalidated in light of new information--in order to assimilate
the new learning--to tie a new knot. I like it. Even my personal
learning experiences often incorporate this knot tying and untying
process.
It's ok to revisit unlearning :D
Cheers,
--Ginger Shafer The Leadership Dimension "Bringing leadership to life!" vshafer@azstarnet.com
Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>