Learning Organizations

Abstract

Learning organizations are environments promoting individual and team learning capabilities. A growing number of organizations throughout the world are embracing these concepts as strategies for competing in dynamic economic environments. Globally, leaders across varying industries continue to strive to build learning organizations to improve effectiveness, and continuously evolve. Learning organizations depend on effective communication; a chief component of leadership influence. They also require thinking from as many perspectives as possible, in order to change and grow in response to anticipated and existing external pressures. These perspectives emerge from the variety of experiences coming from diverse individuals, and leaders must recognize these as critical resources in organizations' ability to learn, manage change and facilitate innovation. The present analysis explores learning organization variables, arguing that diversity and leadership communication are important co-factors in successfully implementing learning organization principles leading to innovation.