A buzzword that has found its way into the lexicon of management is "LEARNING ORGANIZATION". Notwithstanding their size, organizations big or small have been learning to survive for a long time.
Learning
is a never-ending process. It is said that one learns
from `cradle to grave' and from `womb to tomb'. Learning
is also at the core of an individual or organization's
ability to adapt to a regularly changing environment.
Learning has to be intrinsically motivating. It requires
commitment and responsibility and is about developing
core competencies. The learning organization continually
expands the capacity to be creative and innovative.
Learning
is key in being able to both identify opportunities that
others might not see and to exploit these opportunities
regularly and fully. All said and done learning cannot
be automatic. It requires energy, thought, courage and
support. It is also not easy and can be painful.
Learning requires letting go a number of cherished ideas
and values.
It
is often said the only other alternative to learning is
stagnation and death. Sill, many of us wittingly or
unwittingly allow our knowledge to become obsolete. Like
ostriches, we keep our heads buried in our past
achievements and become blind to new ideas, new products
and new applications of such products. We stop digging
up new prospects. |
