A Mighty Step: Critical Systemic Interpretation of the Learning Organization

Abstract

The systems idea is at the heart of the Learning Organization (LO). This chapter revisits the LO in the light of a revised understanding of the systems idea. It introduces the basic premises of three fundamentally different theories about the systems idea. It briefly reviews Senge’s work and the LO literature with these three theories in mind. It interprets the LO in terms of the most defensible of the three theories: Critical Systemic Thinking. It considers critical systemic practice as an alternative “Fifth Discipline Fieldbook”. This “mighty step” involves a paradigm shift and redefining relationships between: employees and management, management and consultants; and organizations, the wider human society, and the living planet.