The learning organization survey evaluate an how well an organization in promoting learning based on following three aspects.
1. Supportive learning environment which reflects in whether an organization open to new ideas or not and people feel safe to express their own ideas etc.
2. Concrete learning processes and practices which reflects in whether an organization can effectively collect useful information or not and any training are provided to staffs etc.
3. Leadership that reinforces learning which means that whether the management of an organization support training to staffs or not.
My workplace did poor in supportive learning environment comparing with the results of the other two organizations. As my workplace has long history and well established culture, sometimes it is hard to make change. Staffs are get used to work in traditional way and some of them are reluctant to attempt new mode.
However, my workplace scores much better in concrete learning processes and practices comparing with the results of other two organizations. This may reflect in the resources my workplace has put in training. We have two departments responsible to offer internal training to staffs. Staffs can also apply for funding to attend external trainings and workshops etc. However, most of the trainings are related to improving staff’s professional skills rather than building up creative ideas. Thus, many of the staffs only follow established rule to complete their job tasks and this may contribute to the low score in supportive learning environment.
For the last aspect, leadership that reinforces learning, my workplace score lower than HKUGA but higher than Makino’s university. I believe the management support staffs to enrich their professional knowledge but pay less attention in promoting an open working environment.
References: David A. Garvin, Amy C. Edmondson, Francesca Gino (2008), Is Yours a Learning Organization? Access from: http://cb.hbsp.harvard.edu/cb/search/Is%2520Yours%2520a%2520Learning%2520Organization%253F?Ntk=HEMainSearch&N=0
Hi Vanice,
ReplyDeleteBy comparing our organization, I'm almost agree with your perspective. Your organization did well in the learning organization scores summary and concrete learning process and practice which shows that your organization has a good resources, environment, training policy and so on. Also I think the leadership of your organization should make effort to innovate in order to improve the supportive learning environment.