The Learning Organization: Developing Democracy at Work - Softcover

9781861975874: The Learning Organization: Developing Democracy at Work
View all copies of this ISBN edition:
 
 
Practical and provocative, this book by one of the world's experts in management education offers a fresh perspective on the way organizations work. *Bob Garratt proposes a theory of organizations as 'learning systems' in which success depends on the ability of managers to become 'direction-givers' and on the organization's capacity for learning continuously. *As well as considering the work of other business thinkers, Garratt employs a wide range of experimental models and graphic illustrations to demonstrate both the stagnation which results from the absence of these skills, and the dramatic effects of their positive implementation. *Fully revised and with a new introduction, The Learning Organization is a seminal work - exciting, informative and a challenge to all directors, management educators and the business community at large.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

Review:
This highly useful, readable book has been going strong for 13 years now. The author, who also wrote the catchily titled The Fish Rots from the Head employs colourful language to bash readers' minds into shape.

Garratt's basic presumption is "that organisations can only be effective and efficient if there is conscious and continuous learning between three distinct groups--the leaders who direct the enterprise, the staff who deliver the product or services and the customer". He claims that large and disparate companies such as BP Amoco, GE, Xerox, and Harley Davidson, have adopted practices to make them "learning organisations". Like a shark which must constantly swim to survive, an organisation must constantly be on the look out for new ideas. The Board of Directors must initiate practices which reward good learning and growth for the company.

According to Garratt there are three types of learning: "policy", which refers to "organisational effectiveness"--how well the company's activity is perceived by its customers; "operational" which refers to how well the company performs its activity; and finally, "strategic" which refers to understanding how and why organisational failures occur. The Learning Organisation cautions managers in drives for efficiency that they will "downsize, then right size, and finally capsize". Having convinced us that organisational learning matters, Garratt sets out the organisational pre-conditions to make it happen before finally explaining some nitty-gritty details about concrete steps a company can employ. --Bruce McWilliams

Review:

Praise for The Fish Rots from the Head:

‘No director can afford to ignore this book’
Sir Adrian Cadbury

‘An important contribution to the corporate governance debate and clear and intelligent advice on how to improve the performance of a board’
Tim Melville-Ross, Institute of Directors, London

Praise for The Learning Organization:

‘I read it with great interest and profit’
Professor Charles Handy

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

  • PublisherProfile Books
  • Publication date2001
  • ISBN 10 1861975872
  • ISBN 13 9781861975874
  • BindingPaperback
  • Number of pages158
Buy Used
Acceptable Learn more about this copy

Shipping: £ 25
From United Kingdom to U.S.A.

Destination, rates & speeds

Add to Basket

Other Popular Editions of the Same Title

9780002572095: The Learning Organization: Developing Democracy at Work

Featured Edition

ISBN 10:  ISBN 13:  9780002572095
Publisher: HarperCollins Business, 2000
Hardcover

  • 9780006369233: The Learning Organization

    Fontan..., 1987
    Softcover

  • 9780006530534: Learning Organization Rev Ed

    Harper..., 2001
    Softcover

Top Search Results from the AbeBooks Marketplace

Stock Image

Garratt, Bob
Published by Profile Business (2001)
ISBN 10: 1861975872 ISBN 13: 9781861975874
Used Paperback Quantity: 1
Seller:
dsmbooks
(Liverpool, United Kingdom)

Book Description Paperback. Condition: No Dust Jacket. No Cds. Acceptable. book. Seller Inventory # D7F5-8-M-1861975872-5

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy Used
£ 33.64
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: £ 25
From United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds