Organizational Learning

Individual Learning Styles questionnaire

Group (interactive) Black Caucus Groups

Organizational (structure) Quad Graphics

Integrationof externalknowledge

Integrationof internalknowledge

Continuousinnovation &

adaptation

Independentproblemsolving

Learningorganization

internalexternal

present

future

The Learning Organization

From D. Leonard-Barton, Sloan Management Review, 1992.

The Organizational Learning Cycle

Exploration

Innovation/Adaptation

Dissemination

Institutionalization

Exploitation

The Individual Learning Cycle

ConcreteExperience

AbstractConceptualization

Observation& Reflection

Testing &Experimentation

Learning Practices

Tanagram open up the dialogue

Murder Mystery acknowledge & lower barriers

El-Tek make disagreements constructive which keeps the channels open!

“Fault lines” (Lau & Murnighan, Academy of Management Review, 1998)

polarizing sub-groups = barriers!

Black Caucus Groups at Xerox

What problems do Blacks encounter at Xerox? Do they need "caucus groups"? Why?

How would you rate the effectiveness of the Black Caucus Groups at Xerox? What are they accomplishing well? What concerns do you have, or what problems do you see?

What do you think Kearns should do? Does it make sense for him (or Xerox more generally) to support the Black Caucus Groups extended to the national level? Why or why not?

Quad Graphics

Is Quad Graphics a “learning” organization? How do you know?

What allows Quad Graphics to be a learning organization?

What can other organizations learn from Quad Graphics to be better at learning?

Quad Graphics

Culture Sharing information is value-creating Learn, do, improve, teach, move up!

Leadership “The principle of business is that the best

team wins” (Harry “Larry” Quadracci)

Infrastructure Selection, training, compensation, etc. Getting the pieces to work together...