Is Yours a Learning Organization?: By Kapil dev Sharma

Is Yours a Learning Organization? 

By David A. Garvin, Amy C. Edmondson, and Francesca Gino  

Learner

:

Kapil

Dev

Sharma

PA9024

Learning Organization 

A Learning organization is a place where employees 

excel at creating, acquiring, and transferring 

knowledge. 

Learning organizations need to foster; 

Knowledge sharing, 

Idea development, 

Learning from mistakes and  

Holistic thinking  

Knowledge sharing- 

   Knowledge sharing is an activity through 

which knowledge (i.e. information, skills, or 

expertise) is exchanged among people, friends, 

or members of family, a community or an 

organization.

Idea development- 

   To remain competitive in the future, 

organizations will need to abandon their ideas 

of information hoarding and embrace 

knowledge sharing. 

Ex. - Active participation of employees 

       - Suggestion Box  

Learning from mistakes- 

  Trial & Error 

Holistic thinking- 

 Holistic thinking is a way of thinking that 

identifies actions and attitudes which leads 

towards a broader, more selfless way of 

thinking. 

Topics to be cover... 

There are three building blocks of learning 

institutions; 

1. A supportive learning environment 

2. Concrete learning processes and practices 

3. Leadership behavior that reinforces learning   

BUILDING BLOCK 1: 

A Supportive Learning Environment 

 

Psychological

Safety

  Appreciation of Differences 

 

Openness

to

New

Ideas

 

Time

for

ReflecAon

Psychological safety-  

   It is easy to speak up about what is on your 

mind.  

   Employees cannot fear being belittled or 

marginalized when they disagree with peers or 

authority figures, ask naive questions, own up 

to mistakes, or present  a minority viewpoint. 

Instead they must be comfortable expressing 

their thoughts about the work at hand.  

Appreciation of differences- 

   Learning occurs when people become aware of 

opposing ideas. 

   Recognizing the marketable ideas, motivate the 

employees to become as entrepreneurs. 

Openness to new ideas- 

   Employees should be encouraged to take risks and 

explore the untested and unknown. 

Time for reflection- (Flexitime) 

   Learning environments allow time for a pause in 

the action and encourage thoughtful review of the 

organization’s processes.  

BUILDING BLOCK 2: 

Concrete Learning Processes and Practices  

  Experimentation  

  Information Collection 

 

Analysis

  Education and Training 

 

Information

Transfer

Experimentation 

• Experiments frequently with new ways of 

working  

• Experiments frequently with new product or 

service offerings 

• Formal process for conducting and evaluating 

experiments or new ideas 

• Simulations when trying out new ideas. 

Information collection 

systematically collects information on- 

• Competitors  

• Economic and social trends 

• Customers   

• Technological trends  

Analysis 

• Engages in productive conflict and debate 

during discussions. 

• Seeking out dissenting views during 

discussions 

• Frequently identifies and discusses underlying 

assumptions that might affect key decisions 

• Never pays attention to different views during 

discussions.   

Education and Training 

Newly hired employees in this unit receive 

adequate training. 

Experienced employees in this unit receive  

• Periodic training and training updates 

• Training when switching to a new position  

• Training when new initiatives are launched    

Information Transfer 

Forums for meeting with and learning from 

• Experts from other departments, teams, or 

divisions  

• Experts from outside the organization  

• Customers and clients  

• Suppliers 

Regularly shares information with networks of 

experts within the organization as well as outside 

of the organization.  

BUILDING BLOCK 3: 

Leadership That Reinforces Learning 

• Behavior of the leaders 

• Managers acknowledge their own limitations with 

respect to knowledge, information, or expertise. 

• ask probing questions.  

• listen attentively. 

• provide time, resources, and venues for 

identifying problems and organizational 

challenges. 

• provide time, resources, and venues for improving 

on past performance.