A systemic approach to processes of power in learning organizations

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 344-352 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert L. Flood ◽  
Norma R.A. Romm
Keyword(s):  
Learning Organization ◽  
Social Transformation ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Environmental Issues ◽  
Systemic Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Many ◽  
Life On Earth ◽  
Original Approach

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to give practical insights into the systemic approach to organizational learning “triple loop learning” (TLL; introduced in Part I) by reflecting on a facilitated research-and-intervention undertaken in South Africa as part of the “500 Schools Project”. Design/methodology/approach The authors reflect on one of the many researcher-assisted interventions in the “500 Schools Project” by retrospectively reflecting on the case through the principles of TLL. Findings The authors show that researcher-assisted intervention can be genuinely transformative given two conditions: The principles of TLL are embraced, and researchers are committed to such principles and passionate about social transformation. In particular, the case study illustrates how we might address processes of power in processes of design and in processes of debate. The focus on power arguably helped to shift “power over” (power as domination) to “power to” enact empowering designs, “power to” co-develop responsible decision-making and “power to” transform relations with each other and with life on Earth. Originality/value The authors introduce an original approach to TLL that directly addresses issues relating to processes of power. The value of the TLL is that it encourages researchers, learning facilitators and practitioners of the learning organization to engage with processes of power without neglecting other important organizational and environmental issues.

A systemic approach to processes of power in learning organizations

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 260-272 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert L. Flood ◽  
Norma R.A. Romm
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Learning ◽  
Transformative Learning ◽  
Learning Organization ◽  
Systemic Approach ◽  
Power Dynamics ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Social Fabric ◽  
The Social ◽  
Life On Earth ◽  
Original Approach

Purpose The purpose of the paper is to introduce a systemic approach to organizational learning “triple loop learning” (TLL) that addresses processes of power. Three equally important foci in our TLL are processes of design, processes of debate and processes of power. The focus on power aims to shift “power over” (power as domination) to “power to” enact empowering designs, “power to” co-develop responsible decision-making and “power to” transform our relations with each other and with life on Earth. Design/methodology/approach The organizational learning literature is reviewed in the context of power dynamics and its shortcomings are highlighted. The authors introduce their understanding of TLL, and how it engages with power dynamics in organizations. Findings Peter Senge’s conceptualization of systems thinking is unable to recognize processes of power in organizations and offers limited support to transformative learning. Conceptualizations of TLL aim to enhance learning in organizations but none satisfactorily address the processes of power. The learning organization literature as a whole does not satisfactorily address processes of power or reflect our way of envisaging “looping between loops of learning” in TLL to better design, better debate and better develop relationality in the social fabric of organizations. Originality/value The authors introduce an original approach to TLL that directly addresses the processes of power in organizations. It offers researchers, learning facilitators and practitioners of the learning organization a way to engage with the processes of power without neglecting other important organizational and environmental issues.

scholarly journals Down to earth: Gaia storytelling and the learning organization

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth Mølbjerg Jørgensen ◽  
Anete Mikkala Camille Strand ◽  
Julia Hayden ◽  
Mogens Sparre ◽  
Jens Larsen
Keyword(s):  
Learning Organization ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Critical Zone ◽  
Social Implications ◽  
Truth Telling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
New Beginning ◽  
Shape Learning ◽  
Life On Earth ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose In accordance with Latour, this paper aims to respond to the call for a “down-to-earth” post-learning organization approach to sustainability, which is critical of Senge’s conception of learning organization (LO). Design/methodology/approach “Gaia storytelling” is used to define a LO that is “down to earth.” Findings Gaia is understood through the notion of a critical zone, which foregrounds the local and differentiated terrestrial conditions in which life on Earth is embedded. Practical implications Gaia storytelling implies perceiving LO as a network of storytelling practices enacted and told by unique creative citizens. Such an organization sustains and grows through several entangled storytelling cycles that allow Gaia to shape learning. Social implications The article distinguishes five different storytelling cycles as a way to explore how the Gaia theater cycle connects to other cycles. The four other cycles are called Gaia thinking, explorative, creative and Gaia truth-telling. Originality/value A Gaian LO is a new beginning for LO.

scholarly journals Approaches to help the practitioner determine “are we a learning organization”

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 362-365
Author(s):  
Simon Reese
Keyword(s):  
Learning Organization ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Many ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The “Implication for practitioners” paper summarizes the articles within this issue of The Learning Organization in an easy-to-digest format for the practitioner audience. This paper aims to outline how in practice the structure and people and the interplay of both have an impact in creating a learning organization. Included in the paper is a summary of articles within this issue that outline different studies that can easily lead toward actions in practice. Design/methodology/approach The summary identifies specific elements from the articles within this issue that can applied in practice. Findings This issue of The Learning Organization is full of content to help practitioners think more deeply about assessing their organization and offers application of tools that can be easily applied in any organization. Practical implications The “Implication for practitioners” paper aims to outline areas where the articles can be further applied. The articles within this issue outline how structure and characteristics (or people) can provide a significant impact on developing a learning organization. Originality/value Readers can gain value in reading this summary, as it outline some of the many practical ideas outlined within the articles of this issue of The Learning Organization.

Sustainability ratings in residential development: a worthwhile endeavour?

2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 353-372 ◽  
Author(s):  
Georgia Warren-Myers ◽  
Madeline Judge ◽  
Angela Paladino
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Built Environment ◽  
Housing Market ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Environmental Issues ◽  
Residential Development ◽  
Rating Systems ◽  
Content Type

Purpose Rating tools for the built environment were designed to engage consumers and enhance sustainability and resilience. However, the intended outcomes of these rating systems appear to have limited implementation in the residential new housing market in Australia. The purpose of this paper is to investigate consumers’ motivations and experiences who have purchased houses that are situated in a sustainability-based certified development and will have been required to comply with mandatory dwelling certification. Design/methodology/approach The paper explores the awareness and perception of sustainability ratings and whether the motivations for purchasing in the sustainably certified development have heightened their awareness of sustainability and the resilience of new housing. This has been investigated through a pilot study of consumers who have purchased land in a certified estate and built a new home, through an online survey. Findings The findings reveal that the rating systems are at present not having the desired influence as first thought; that is, to inform consumers of the sustainability of a dwelling or property and to instigate trust of the environmental credentials of the property. Research limitations/implications This illuminating case study of participants who have purchased a sustainable rated development demonstrates that regardless of their concern for environmental issues, consumers have both low awareness and trust in the ratings. Despite this, consumers do seek value from these credentials to the overall property. Originality/value This study aims to illustrate the disconnect in engagement between developers, builders and new home buyers in relation to sustainability certification and implementation.

A spiritual perspective on Senge’s five disciplines: harmony and Alibaba

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 521-533
Author(s):  
Carry Mak ◽  
Robin Stanley Snell ◽  
Jacky Hong
Keyword(s):  
Learning Organization ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Shared Vision ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Personal Mastery ◽  
Five Disciplines ◽  
Senge's Five Disciplines ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate Peter Senge’s ideas from the perspective of the spiritual ideal of harmony/He (和). Design/methodology/approach Following a literature review of the conceptualization of Senge’s fifth discipline and harmony, an appreciative case study of Alibaba is adopted to demonstrate the role of harmony in guiding the transformative application of the five disciplines of the learning organization. Findings In developing as a learning organization, Alibaba is portrayed as having embraced three levels of harmony: person-within-oneself, person-to-others and person-to-nature harmony. The authors identify three equivalencies between Senge’s disciplines and the traditional Chinese ideal of harmony. First, personal mastery and metal models correspond to developing person-within-oneself harmony. Second, team learning and shared vision entail developing person-to-others harmony. Third, systems thinking aligns with person-to-nature harmony. Practical implications The case study demonstrates various approaches that can be used to foster the development of person-within-oneself, person-to-others and person-to-nature harmony within an aspiring learning organization. Originality/value This paper shows how core values of Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism, distilled into the Chinese ideal of harmony, can encourage the cultivation of learning organizations.

Interdependent critical infrastructures resilience: methodology and case study

2015 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 70-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benoît Robert ◽  
Luciano Morabito ◽  
Irène Cloutier ◽  
Yannick Hémond
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Critical Infrastructure ◽  
Systemic Approach ◽  
Critical Infrastructures ◽  
Coherence Analysis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Infrastructure Systems ◽  
Infrastructure System ◽  
Good For

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present a coherence analysis to evaluate the resilience for a critical infrastructure (CI). This is the new way to evaluate the CI and demonstrate that the authors need to pass from the protection towards resilience. Design/methodology/approach – The authors use two approaches for this research. First is a consequence-based approach to evaluate the resilience. This approach has been used many times for evaluating the interdependencies between CIs. The second is a systemic approach to characterize the system and doing the coherence analysis. Findings – This paper presents a methodology to evaluate the coherence in a context of CIs protection. The coherence analysis in resilience is a new concept and the first result to the application seems very good for the user of the research. Originality/value – The originality of this paper is the coherence analysis applied to a resilience evaluation. The criteria for coherence analysis is innovative and it is a new way to consider the resilience and the relation between an organization and it is partners. Another value is the need for a wider scope in the analysis of hazards and how to address them that includes the infrastructure system itself, but also other related organizations and infrastructure systems.

scholarly journals Global text project: new horizons in textbook marketing

2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 297-307 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leyland F. Pitt ◽  
Deon Nel ◽  
Gene van Heerden ◽  
Anthony Chan
Keyword(s):  
Open Source ◽  
Continuous Improvement ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Graduate Course ◽  
Content Type ◽  
New Horizons ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Original Product ◽  
The Many

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to introduce the global text project (GTP) case. The unique developments of the case provide insight of the many challenges and opportunities created within the open source movement.Design/methodology/approachA case study was used to illustrate some of the most pertinent and interesting developments in the field of marketing, alluding to the open source environment. A Wikibook was created in collaboration with all the participants of a graduate course and the development of this offering initiated a project called the GTP.FindingsThe open source movement has created new ways of thinking and acting. The contributions, modifications and improvements by all users to the original product provide a platform of continuous improvement and development.Originality/valueThe value of the paper lies in the lessons and challenges learnt from the case especially by those managing the GTP.

Australian silo art: creative placemaking in regional communities

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amelia Green
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Physical Space ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Creative Placemaking ◽  
Fertile Ground ◽  
Knowledge And Practice ◽  
Current Impact ◽  
The Many

Purpose This paper aims to explore the capacity of Australian silo art from a creative placemaking perspective. The paper also takes up this case as fertile ground for probing into the complexity of creative placemaking. Design/methodology/approach The case study approach is exploratory, drawing on public documents and media sources to thematically (i.e. qualitatively) analyse the factors, actors and processes that pertain to how Australian silo art can contribute towards empowering communities, activating everyday spaces and, ultimately, making socially connected and resilient places. Findings Each theme encapsulates a particular interplay: (1) physical space – social place, (2) past – present – future place, (3) bottom-up – top-down energies, (4) residents – tourists, (5) urban – nonurban place and (6) material – digital place. Research limitations/implications Rather than proffering conclusions about the current impact of silo art on local communities, the paper illuminates the practical workings of silo art as a potential form of creative placemaking. Additionally, thinking of creative placemaking in terms of ongoing interplays could stimulate and expand knowledge and practice in this domain. Originality/value This paper initiates and charts a course for a rigorous and critical investigation into silo art as a substantive cultural and artistic phenomenon and a meaningful chapter in regional arts and creative placemaking in Australia. The interplays distinguished provide an additional basis for probing further into the many layers and overall complexity of creative placemaking.

scholarly journals Implementation obstacles and strategy implementation failure

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos J.F. Cândido ◽  
Sérgio P. Santos
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Implementation Process ◽  
Strategy Implementation ◽  
Study Analysis ◽  
Review Of The Literature ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Case Study Analysis ◽  
Implementation Failure ◽  
The Many

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to address the following question: How do strategy implementation obstacles relate to each other and affect strategy implementation? Design/methodology/approach The research methodology is qualitative and based on an extensive review of the literature and on an in-depth case study analysis. Findings This paper draws two main conclusions. The first is that the many obstacles that impact the strategy implementation process can interact and be strongly interrelated in dynamic and complex manners. The second is that obstacles can lead to and reinforce other obstacles, eventually forming long chains of blockages. Originality/value Strategy implementation remains a difficult task with improbable success. This paper provides a contribution to an explanation on why so many strategy implementation efforts fail. It is one of the very few papers addressing the issue of the relationships between strategy implementation obstacles.

scholarly journals The learning organization from a pragmatist perspective

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 477-488
Author(s):  
Bente Elkjaer
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Learning ◽  
Learning Organization ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Social Activity ◽  
Public Enterprise ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Learning At Work ◽  
The Social ◽  
Almost All

Purpose This paper aims to contribute to the debate on what is a learning organization (LO). The author proposes that pragmatist philosophy may be a source of inspiration in this endeavor. Design/methodology/approach The author revisits a 25-year-old case study in which the process of implementing an LO in a public enterprise was observed. This was in the heyday of LOs, when they were regarded as an organizational form that could provide solutions for almost all organizational problems. The author starts by considering this case using the first four types of understanding in Örtenblad’s LO taxonomy (2018): “learning at work,” “climate for learning,” “organizational learning” and “learning structure.” Then the author uses Örtenblad’s fifth version of LOs, the “social perspective,” to show that the pragmatist concepts of experience, inquiry and commitment are helpful in revealing and explaining how learning happens as part of the “social”. Findings The author proposes the sixth version of Los, involving letting experience and inquiry loose. This is an extension of Örtenblad’s fifth version of LOs, which rests upon collective as the learning unit and learning as context-dependent cultural or social activity. The sixth version makes it possible to understand organizational learning and LOs as recursive processes of inquiry into tensions in experiences and the organizational affordances of voicing and enacting these tensions. Originality/value Regarding LOs from a pragmatist perspective makes it possible to view learning as cultural and social activity without making learning a matter of either motivational persons for learning or organizations as “conducive” for learning, but understands the two as connected in recursive, iterative and rhythmic processes of tensions and resolutions.

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