Edu 500 Organizational Learning Paper
Assignment #1 – Theory and Practice of Organizational Learning
Shannon Goodwin
Strayer University
Adult Learning Theory
EDU 500
Dr. Rollia Oliver
October 16, 2013
Theory and Practice of Organizational Learning
Theory
1. How are learning organizations defined by professionals in the field?
Professionals in the field have defined learning organizations in several ways. Senge first introduced the concept of learning organizations in 1990. He defines learning organizations as organizations where employees constantly increase their ability to produce the outcomes they desire, where fresh and opened-minded thinking is encouraged, where shared ambition is freely accepted, and where people are constantly discovering how to work as a team (Merriam, Baumgartner, & Caffarella, 2007). In 1992, Watkins and Marsick portrayed learning organizations, as organizations characterized by employee participating in performing collaborative acts with shared responsibility for change directed towards common values or beliefs (Smith, 2007). Others in the …show more content…
According to Malhotra (1996), these three practices fall within the generative learning theory. Generative learning, also known as “double-loop” learning, is all about viewing the world from a new and innovative perspective. It not only focuses on the achievement of goals, but how to capitalize from mistakes made during the process (Malhota, 1996). My organization encourages its employees to view things in wholes versus in parts. It thrives on the team building approach and problem solving. Furthermore, emphasis is placed on training opportunities for all – from the grassroots worker, to the mid-level and executive-level manager. The objective of such training is to ensure employees attain knowledge that can be integrated into organizational processes across the full spectrum of
Shannon Goodwin
Strayer University
Adult Learning Theory
EDU 500
Dr. Rollia Oliver
October 16, 2013
Theory and Practice of Organizational Learning
Theory
1. How are learning organizations defined by professionals in the field?
Professionals in the field have defined learning organizations in several ways. Senge first introduced the concept of learning organizations in 1990. He defines learning organizations as organizations where employees constantly increase their ability to produce the outcomes they desire, where fresh and opened-minded thinking is encouraged, where shared ambition is freely accepted, and where people are constantly discovering how to work as a team (Merriam, Baumgartner, & Caffarella, 2007). In 1992, Watkins and Marsick portrayed learning organizations, as organizations characterized by employee participating in performing collaborative acts with shared responsibility for change directed towards common values or beliefs (Smith, 2007). Others in the …show more content…
According to Malhotra (1996), these three practices fall within the generative learning theory. Generative learning, also known as “double-loop” learning, is all about viewing the world from a new and innovative perspective. It not only focuses on the achievement of goals, but how to capitalize from mistakes made during the process (Malhota, 1996). My organization encourages its employees to view things in wholes versus in parts. It thrives on the team building approach and problem solving. Furthermore, emphasis is placed on training opportunities for all – from the grassroots worker, to the mid-level and executive-level manager. The objective of such training is to ensure employees attain knowledge that can be integrated into organizational processes across the full spectrum of