Learning results in knowledge..? LO23357

Malcolm Burson (mburson@mint.net)
Tue, 23 Nov 1999 19:42:57 -0500

Replying to LO23181 --

On Thursday, November 11, John Gunkler wrote,

>I have now seen it too often not to question it -- the implicit or
>explicit assumption that the BEING state that the BECOMING state where
>learning leads is knowledge. That is, the result of learning is
>knowledge.
>
>Does anyone else have trouble with that? Aren't there other results of
>learning? For example, we used to talk about knowledge, skills, and
>attitudes -- all potentially the outcomes of learning. In organizational
>learning, at least, it seems to me that another potential outcome of
>learning is a (changed) system or process ("structure") -- and this,
>except metaphorically perhaps, is not what I would want to call
>"knowledge." (snip)
>
>I believe a lot of organizational learning is "remembered" in structures,
>processes, and systems that determine how the organization (and, yes, the
>people in it) will act. Some of this learning is very consequential and
>important, some of it is inconsequential or just silly (like the Marines
>guarding the corridor), some of it is pernicious to the avowed purposes of
>the organization. Some of it may be described by people in the course of
>their working together, some of it may be describable but not usually
>articulated, some of it may even be "tacit" in some strong sense. But it
>is not what I choose to call "knowledge" even though it is what I choose
>to call an outcome of learning, and it does not (all) reside in people's
>heads.

John, I was absolutely enthralled by your message, and kept hoping that
others would respond. In their absence, I want to keep the thread going,
if only by asking,

In what way is the sort of 'learning' you identify as being remembered in
structures NOT knowledge? you seem to be using the K word in ways that
don't immediately connote for me. Can you draw the distinction you seem
to feel so strongly in a sharper way, so that I can keep working with it?
Is is that you want to limit the word, 'knowledge' to a human activity
['in people's heads'], thus excluding organizations? if so, on what basis?

Listening for more....

Malcolm Burson
Professional and Organizational Development Specialist
Maine Department of Environmental Protection
mburson@mint.net; malcolm.c.burson@state.me.us

-- 

"Malcolm Burson" <mburson@mint.net>

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