Learning Societies LO16197

Anupam Saraph (saraph@giaspn01.vsnl.net.in)
Mon, 8 Dec 1997 22:13:21 +-5-30

Replying to LO16134 --

Jeff,

> I think most of your questions have already been covered, and can probably
> be found in the archives.

I guessed as much... But I asked what if I have'nt caught on ;-) !

> [Host's Note: Hmm... Well, these questions have, of course, been discussed
> here, but further talk on these is welcome. ...Rick]

Thanks Rick. Does this have to do with each member learning?

[Host's Note: Yes, even if someone else has said good things, further
dialogue may be very helpful to those participating. I was also thinking
that, although many of the grand questions have been raised here, there
are very few which have brought forth such a good answer that dialogue
should stop. Welcome! ...Rick]

> The question of measuring learning is of course a difficult one, but not
> insurmountable. But that depends what you want to do with the measures in
> the first place.

If you could not measure you would not know if there is a net learning.
Would the difference in propositions I know now and knew before be a good
measure of learning?

> I think for most of us that do experience real learning we feel as though
> we've taken a spiritual bath and sort of "know" we're learning without a
> need to measure it. And if there's more than one of you in an org feeling
> the same way, then you have a learning org.

Individual learning may be easy to sense, but measure? If you call that
"l" then you seem to say that organisational learning is L=sum(l[i]) for
i=1 to number of individuals in the organisation?

What do you call the learning of mechanisms, systems by organisations? Is
that distinct from a learning organisation? Can that not happen even if
many in the organisation do not learn?

> The extent of your
> participation and contribution to the learning org list is of course an
> excellent measure of your learning. So, Anupam, as from now, your learning
> is being measured, good luck and welcome.

It is interesting that you equate participation to learning. Buddha in his
moment of learning participated the least. In fact I remember reading a
qute just this week which said something to the effect that he who says
most knows the least.

Regards,

Anupam

-- 

Anupam Saraph <saraph@giaspn01.vsnl.net.in>

Learning-org -- Hosted by Rick Karash <rkarash@karash.com> Public Dialog on Learning Organizations -- <http://www.learning-org.com>