5.6 Principles of Learning Organisation

and need to create positive culture for change

What is learning organisation

A business that is flexible adaptable and productive during periods of rapid change

How

A business needs to be able to work out how to harness employee commitment and capacity to learn

Principle 1-System thinking

long term well thought out responses to problems

A business must understand the connections that exist between itself and all aspects of internal and external enviroment

KFC examples

examples

Examples 1. Operations

• Source new supplies

• How supplies will be stored

• Does any new equipment and machinery need to be purchased

Example 2. HR

• Training needs to be organised for staff to understand how to operate

Example 3. Sales and Marketing

• Promotional material will need to be created

• Market research conducted to determine what customers want and what they will be prepared to pay

Example 4. Finance

• Will need to assess feasibility of menu options, can business afford the change

How system thinking creates a positive culture for change

• System thinking builds trust

• if business owners/managers can show the ability to understand consequences of decisions and impact, employees will be more willing to agree

Principle 2. Personal mastery

• Seeks to provide employees with opportunities to become experts

• Business needs to provide a enviroment that allows this

• Businesses learn through individuals who learn and people who have high level of PM are constantly learning

Personal mastery example

Atlassian provides employees with annual learning budget to fund training or development opportunity

How does personal mastery create positive culture for change

• Personal mastery creates culture where people are motivated to learn improve and adapt

• Makes employees feel more positive and open towards change

Principle 3. Mental models

• Is the assumptions and generalisations of how people understand the world

• Can involve pre concieved ideas of how things within a business should be done

• Businesses need to be willing and able to change mental models in order to drive business forwards

Menetal model example

Melbourne design agency allowed employees opportunities to complete work over different structure

How mental models helps to create a positive culture for change

• Breaking down mental models helps business replace outdated thinking with open minded and innovative adaptable attitudes

Principle 4. Team learning

• To be learning organisation, members of business need to be able to collaborate and learn together

• Teams that learn together in a business will achieve improved results

How team learning helps create a positive culture for change

• Team learning creates supportive collaborative environment where people feel confident and motivated

• helps remove fear and uncertainty

Principle 5. Building a Shared Vision

• When building a shared vision its important to ensure a business vision comes from range of people and not leaders

• Shared vision helps business implement change as it spreads ownership of vision

How building a shared vision helps create a positive culture for change

• By involving number of different individuals in determining the future direction of business, there is greater commitment and ownership of vision