This question contains two parts; be sure to answer both. First, define learning organization and summarize the three parts of a learning organization. Next, imagine that you are a publisher of fiction, and your publishing house considers itself a learning organization. Give an example of how your publishing house might implement each of the three parts of a learning organization.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

A learning organization is an organization that actively creates, acquires, and transfers knowledge within itself and is able to modify its behavior to reflect new knowledge.

Parts of a learning organization are:

1. Creating and acquiring knowledge. In learning organizations, managers try to actively infuse their organizations with new ideas and information, which are the prerequisites for learning. They acquire such knowledge by constantly scanning their external environments, by not being afraid to hire new talent and expertise when needed, and by devoting significant resources to training and developing their employees. In the publishing business, the managers are always looking for new trends—what do people what do read? For example, the managers might notice the popularity of TV shows with vampires and decide to start publishing books about vampires.

2.Transferring knowledge. Managers actively work at transferring knowledge throughout the organization, reducing barriers to sharing information and ideas among employees. Electronic Data Systems (EDS), for instance, practically invented the information-technology services industry, but by 1996 it was slipping behind competitors—missing the onset of the Internet wave, for example. When a new CEO, Dick Brown, took the reins in 1999, he changed the culture from "fix the problem yourself" to sharing information internally. In a publishing company, individual editors are responsible for shaping books and helping to make them successful with readers. Many editors transfer this knowledge at monthly meetings of editorial boards, which review the status of all of the company's not-yet-published books. They also transfer their skills to the junior members of the staff (for example, editorial assistants) by training them in how to spot talent and trends in the market.

3.Modifying behavior. Learning organizations are nothing if not results oriented. Thus, managers encourage employees to use the new knowledge obtained to change their behavior to help further the organization's goals. In the publishing industry, it is very important for editors to have good relationships with their authors and with literary agents. If an editor is not behaving respectfully, his or her manager should step in to help the editor modify his or her behavior.