Tuesday, January 24, 2006

POL GOES ALL EUROPEAN

The learning journey continues...

As part of my continuing learning journey I am often in deep discussion with individuals and clients alike about what it means to be a Learning Organisation. Is this an unattainable goal or do organisations really stand a chance to benefit from their existing expertise to further business improvements, reduce risks and enhance quality control?

E.C.L.O (European Consortium for the Learning Organisation) - the longest serving Community of Learning in Europe - certainly believe that this is a concept worth fighting for and encourage individuals from around Europe to join and develop a deeper understanding of what makes a organisation learn from itself.

This year, I have again been invited (with my colleague from KnowledgeWorx) to speak at their 13th International Conference which focuses on 'Creating Capacity for Change' the four key strands are:
  • Understanding Organisation Dynamics (academic papers)
  • Organisation Dynamics in Action (working case studies)
  • Leadership and the capacity to change (leadership and management)
  • Facilitating the capacity to change (corporate universities and other innovative tools)

As a member of the conference committee I can tell you that there are some exciting proposals for the programme outline. In addition to the conference E.C.L.O is also revamping its Academic and Professional Practice Board who are already working on developing a variety of very intersting research projects for 2006.

It seems like the LO concept is NOT dead in the water and with this European emphasis more organisations from the corporate and academic worlds as well as consultancies and the public sector remain committed to explore new directions for successful business and people development in a learning organisation perspective.

Józefa @ The POL Experience
Link to website

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