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How to design learning programs for managers

Convenor: Carla Vliex

Participants: Lyneve Whiting, John James, Penny Wolf, Michale Kukla, Allsion Baensch, Ann Pattillo

Discussion:

This is the story of the onion which wants to grow green

The basis for the management-development is the ‘onion layers’ theory of G. Baetson. The most outer layer is behavior, the second is knowledge, the third is values/culture, the fourth is personality and the deepest layer is spirit. Would an OS be an appropriate next step on help to develop the organization as a learning community.

Points of discussion

• Design of content is not required as learning will occur, i.e. content is not required in OS. This will emerge.
• However, the big theme should be agreed upon, i.e. “ how do we manage in a better way/ how we are becoming a learning organization now”?
• Create a bridge in language b/w previous things/work and what is next; i.e. ‘now we understand the construction of an onion, we will now .....’
• How can you agree upon a theme, if you don’t actually know what you/others really want? (Johari window)?? Then the rule “ whatever happens is the only thing that could..’ will apply. The group will then learn, at their pace.
• Or, you can use the four quadrants of Wilber in a pre-meeting with the sponsor to set the theme. (And as Harrison suggested earlier use the quadrant again for reflecting afterwards).
• Outcomes determined by sponsor, this will determine the process/method; i.e. if an sponsor wants to train then a training methodology will apply.
• Is the commitment to the theme (i.e. developing a learning organization) genuine or is the commitment like ‘ the Jones next door’. The real, genuine purpose of an organization will also determine the method/process.
• Acknowledgement that directions/trends for organizations is on greater networking with blurred boundaries and flexible work practices that also includes greater levels of accountability.
• Integrating learning from OS through reflection/action learning as a framework overarching the whole process by linking, thinking, learning and doing.