The Learning Organization
by Phil Wilson and Darren O’Conor
Published by Scitech Educational
ISBN: 0 948672 82 X
Elsewhere on this site Michael Kelleher describes various aspects of the learning organisation as a concept. For anyone wanting a detailed description of how they can implement ideas behind the concept this book is ideal. It sets out, in a very practical way, the steps to be taken to make the learning organisation a reality. There are chapters dealing with whether an organisation can learn (see Michael Kelleher’s article again), the strategic impact of learning, learning needs analysis, and how to develop a learning culture. Throughout the book there is a range of activities to be undertaken and it is punctuated, very sensibly, with short sections headed "Pause to Reflect". The book also contains a number of case studies and considers key areas of learning theory, including emotional intelligence and double-loop learning.
I have been talking about the publication as a book, but in fact it is called a dossier and is number 04 in a series of fifteen making up The Universal Manager issued by Scitech Educational in partnership with NEBS Management. The publishers describe The Universal Manager as a dynamic, flexible learning resource for 21st century managers. Designed to NEBS Management and S/NVQ standards, it contains a wealth of material to support the professional development of managers at all levels.
The printed dossiers are just part of The Universal Manager package; they are complemented by material in CD-ROM format and with online facilities having clearly sign-posted links. The website - http://www.universal-manager.co.uk - incorporates discussion forums on management development and business performance solutions and contains additional support material. There are also hyper-links from the CD-ROM to useful sites on the web or publications that can be accessed or ordered. The Universal Manager is indeed a valuable, well-thought-out resource.
The fifteen dossiers making up the series are Risk Management (01), Delivering Successful Projects (02), Planning and Controlling Projects (03), The Learning Organization (04), Managing for Knowledge (05), Obtaining and Retaining Customers (06), Human Resource Planning (07), Business Planning (08), Financial Performance (09), Managing Quality (10), Business Relationships (11), Managing for High Performance (12), Managing Harmoniously (13), 21st Century Communication (14), Managing for Sustainability (15).
