Personal Perception
The concept of “learning organization” offered by Senge appeared to be experienced in Professional Learning Communities for the purpose of group dynamics building.
It is important to stress that the author’s theory is based on the principle of team work. The development and training of organization specialists is an effective method in facilitation and designing of any learning process within organization. Group dynamics within the organization staff is supported by free collective aspiration allowing group members feel freedom in thinking, expression and learning processes in organization functioning.
The method of group leaning to learn together is considered to be productive through its effectiveness and fruitfulness. Results of group dynamics improvement being influenced by conducive to learning atmosphere appeared to result in successful cooperation between the leaders and practitioners.
The learning organization can be analyzed from the position of dual characteristics: it covers plurality and control over the learning process. This aspect allows balancing the learning methodologies and people’s opportunities leading to harmony and mutual understanding in the learning process.
So, the concept of “learning organization” is perceived as a productive method to team work allowing improving and increasing group dynamics through conducive atmosphere of the organization and free collective aspiration of the group members.
Theoretical issues
Peter Senge, the author of the book devoted to “Learning organization” managed to demonstrate the basic principles and missions of a successful and effective organization. His theory supports the opinion that the basic purpose of the organization should never be aimed at making profit but at performing successful business and satisfying social needs.
The notion “learning organization” means the creation of the necessary conditions on the basis of practical and intellectual issues for appropriate organization making. It is necessary to underline the fact that Senge’s organization concept can be characterized as “organism increasing personal capacity for learning in case of its successful functioning in the continual change environment.” (Senge, 1994).
The problem expressed by critics lied in the differences of true “learning organization” perception. In Senge’s organization people strived to widen their capacities for the purpose of reaching desirable things. His organization concept stressed that specialists work in the atmosphere of free collective aspiration experiencing the learning of learning together. Nevertheless, according to the theory demonstrated by Pedler and Boydell, successful learning organization is the one transforming its context and itself through the member’s learning. It means than members create conditions for organization transformation rather that vice versa.
The analysis of Senge’s concept one should underline the fact that his learning organization is focused on the principle of team work sponging intellectual basis in the process of effective learning together.
References
Senge, Peter. (1994) The Fifth Discipline Fieldbook: Strategies and Tools for Building A Learning Organization. Currency, Doubleday.