Hi Doc
in response to your inquiry:
I don't know whether or not US West is a learning organization. I just
made an observation that the strike at US West was about issues which were
somewhat different.
How does this relate to my "agenda"?
We have been working for over 25 years with clients in the area which has
been labeled "socially and environmentally responsible". This included
products, technology and services and involves both what the organization
delivers and how it deals internally with its operation from their
physical facilities as well as the "soft side". While progress has been
made in this arena, most businesses see such elements as "costs" or losses
to the bottom line and few have other metrics than the standard one of
traditional economics.
As futurists, one of the standard techniques used is "scanning". US West
is only one of many examples that we have seen over the past years which
indicates that there is a change occuring which is running counter to the
dictates of the investment community which basically creates the "pond" in
which organizations are swimming.
Another is the rise in the interest in what we call "long half-life
knowledge", liberal studies in general.
Like global warming or the onset of the glaciers or more like the lobster
sitting in the cold water on the burner, it is hard to see that the pond
parameters are changing.
I am trying to point out that a learning organization is not a "board
game" where we try to create the organization within the parameters which
have been laid down by forces which appear beyond the ability of the
organization and its individuals to affect.
As I pointed out earlier, some of these "global" issues which seem removed
or so large that they are accepted as "background" are, today, indeed,
visible. Internal issues talked about in most management books now need to
integrate the outside world. The system needs to be more inclusive.
For example, open book management is a great idea. Now, I wonder what
happens when the same workers and management sit down to determine how the
monies are to be spent lobbying government on the MAI, the FDA on natural
products or the IMF on country loans? How many workers are given the
opportunity to gain the skills to even understand, much less sit at the
table to discuss these issues?
thoughts?
tom abeles
--tom abeles <tabeles@tmn.com>
Learning-org -- Hosted by Rick Karash <rkarash@karash.com> Public Dialog on Learning Organizations -- <http://www.learning-org.com>