Learning Organization, Communication, and Project Planning - Case Study Example

Learning organization Name: Course: Tutor: Date: Learning organization Introducing a Learning Organization Project management Learning organization is one of the critical topics in project management. A learning organization refers to a firm that facilitates and enhances the learning of its staff or members in order to transform itself continuously. Learning organization has picked up in the past few decades because of the stiff competition and pressure in the market. All organizations want to gain competitive advantage and dominate the market or in the business environment. Learning organization should be a systematic thinking, team learning, shared vision, mental models, and personal mastery (Argyris, & Schön, 2001, 43). ABC Company would like to remain competitive in the market; therefore, it should have a learning organization program in place. The strategy for the ABC Health Care facility is to ensure the organization improves the quality of services offered. The organization can become a learning organization because plans are underway to train senior managers and doctors in the organization; so that they will be teaching and training the employees and new recruits in the organization. The organization has all the required facilities that will make the plan to effective and efficient. The organization has been conducting some conferences and seminars for all the doctors and nurses within the region (Argyris, & Schön, 2001, 112). The organization has a strategic plan of ensuring the learning organization succeeds; because it is the only way of ensuring the organization accomplishes its set goals and objectives within the period. The other measure is to have a plan that will ensure all employees are part of the objectives of starting the learning organization. All employees will be consulted on what they expect from the new program of a learning organization. If the employees are involved and consulted on the program, they will not reject it. The top management has new strategies and objectives that will ensure the learning organization accomplish them. The organization too plans through the human resource department to employ trainers and other staffs. These employees will have competencies and skills that make them effective and efficient in service delivery. The required facilities include the computers and the learning materials such as books, magazines, and journals will be distributed as part of improving the program. For the organization to become a learning organization, it should build a shared vision. This will help to have a capacity to hold a shared vision and mission that will help to propel organization to become at the top. The quality of its services is extremely beneficial in its future survival against its competitors in the market. Creating a shared vision will enable a large number of people to be empowered and to improve the learning organization (Argyris, & Schön, 2001, 44). A shared vision is a measure taken by the organization is to make it a learning institution. With a shared vision, employees or workers will perform their duties not because they are forced but because they have to do it willingly. ABC Health Care facility will qualify to be a learning institution. In addition, the organization has taken some measures such as ensuring team learning where it has aligned and develop capacities of a united team that will help to sustain the learning organization. The committed and dedicated employees in the ABC Health Care will help the organization become a reputed learning organization centre. The organization has a system thinking where the organization is focusing at the larger picture; and the relationships that will ensure learning organization achieve its set goals and objectives (Argyris, & Schön, 2001, 113). The organization will be able to become a learning organization because it has complied with all the government requirements; hence, can offer quality services than any other competitor in the industry of health. Before the organization chose to become a learning organization, it was rated as the best organization with experienced, qualified, and hardworking employees in the whole health industry. Evaluating and controlling will be conducted every year in order to correct any deviations that need to be improved. Benefits of learning organization, communication, and project planning Learning an organization is vital to the organization’s success. Learning organization is weighty and beneficial because learning encourages and motivates people to do the best to the organization and its clients (Gilley & Maybunich, 2000, 78). ABC Health Care premise encourages mutual exchange of information between the employees and top management. The staff will be knowledgeable and efficient performing their routine work because they will be knowledgeable. It is beneficial to the organization because it becomes flexible; people or the staff to adapt and accept to the new ideas and change through shared vision and mission (Argyris, & Schön, 2001, 46). Learning organization is beneficial to the organization because it opens new opportunities for growth and expansion. Though it can expose the organization to some risks and uncertainties, the organization can be prepared to meet all challenges that can face the organization. The organization can manipulate information and some policies for it to succeed by achieving its set goals and objectives. Learning organization is essential for all employees to be more knowledgeable about the work environment together with all the workers (Argyris, & Schön, 2001, 114). Business goals will be achieved by building a learning organization that can change the organization from good to better. However, it is still a new concept but a theory it has increased widely because it is a modern philosophy that companies have adopted; from small enterprises to large multinational corporations. Learning organization concept is applied depending on the organization, situations of each business, and the needs of the organization. This will improve the strategic position and operations of the organization (Gilley & Maybunich, 2000, 81). The holistic approach of system thinking in learning does not only help the organization to learn and improve all employees’ performance in the organization, irrespective of their role. It is necessary to the top management, subordinate, and other junior staff. This will ensure information is disseminated to all employees at all levels within the organization. The information will not be in control of the top management, but it will be facilitated through flexible learning and communication. This will eliminate barriers to communication by adopting flatter organizational design and communication (Argyris, & Schön, 2001, 115). It will reduce cases of conflicts and conflicts that my affect the general performance of the organization. The top managers will not have a problem communicating information to juniors and vice versa. Learning organization is also significant because it will ensure continuous improvement in business development that creates a favorable learning culture in the organization. The competitive advantage of the health care will be an added advantage; because the employees will be aware of what other competitors are offering in the market and can change the tactics so that they can outperform them smartly (Gilley & Maybunich, 2000, 82). System thinking will ensure that, both the individuals within the company and the company as a whole take management as a whole. It will be the responsibility of everyone to work towards the goals of the organization rather than waiting for a top official to achieve. Health organizations like ABC are particularly essential in the community in the provision of health services. Learning organization is as valuable as training and development of employees because it is a continuous process. This is aimed at improving employee’s skills in their areas of operation. Learning organization will ensure employees achieve their targets (Argyris, & Schön, 2001, 116). Learning organization is beneficial to the organization because, it will change the managerial and planning view; because the managers will have improved their competencies and skills in the management of the organization. All the people in the organization will be ambitious of not only organization goals, but also personal or individual achievement (Gilley & Maybunich, 2000, 83). Learning organization will improve the level of creativity and innovation. This will make the organization become competitive due to the new ideas generated. The new skills and knowledge acquired by the employees will lead to the development of new ways of offering services to clients and improving the quality of services. Innovation and creativity comes with the new technology, which is driving most of the organizations to achieve their goals. Competition is based on technology that is rapidly changing. New skills and knowledge are needed to cope and adjust to the new technology (Argyris, & Schön, 2001, 47). ABC Health care has decided to start a learning organization program for all employees will be trained on the new technology. This will reduce costs that the company could have used to train its employees in other institutions, seminars, workshops, or conferences. Employees are given a chance to learn within the organization; in order to save time that it could have been wasted trying to understand how to use new technological advancements and equipments especially in the laboratory (Argyris, & Schön, 2001, 117). Learning organization will help to respond to external pressures because employees will be better placed. External pressures may include competition and change in government regulations that may affect the performance of the organization. The organization will not be having internal wrangles because of peaceful coexistence among all employees and top management. This will help the decision makers to make decisions that will help to respond to external pressures with ease depending on the situation. The management will be able to deal with all challenges because the new techniques of problem solving acquired in the learning organization. All employees will contribute their ideas and views that will ensure the disturbing situation is solved to avoid more problems recurring in future (Gilley & Maybunich, 2000, 84). Learning organization will help improve the quality of output and performance in all levels within the organization. Learning organization will equip all employees with skills and knowledge that will help them improve the services they are offering. It will also help to link resources to customer needs because they have the knowledge. Resources in all organizations are scarce and should be utilized fully so that they can improve productivity. Employees will learn ways and means of maximizing returns from the scarce resources; and to avoid wastage or under utilization of resources (Argyris, & Schön, 2001, 48). Learning organization will improve the image and reputation of the organization, contingency, and communication Employees will be treating patients with courtesy and respect they deserve. The ethical standards will improve the reputation of the organization because many people determine the success of the company based on its reputation. Organization’s image or reputation is noteworthy because it makes the organization’s services, products, and employees to be well known in the industry. The potential customer will be attracted to the organization due to the improved service provision; and how other customers and other stakeholders describe the ABC Health services to the public (Argyris, & Schön, 2001, 118). With learning organization, it will increase the pace of change and improvement within the organization. This is because of the new skills, knowledge, ideas, competencies, and confidence. Changes are bound to be seen as the organization adopt the learning organization program; because every employee will be trying to show his or her competencies and capability in what he has gained from the new program. Delivery of services and relationship without the organization will change and with others outsiders such as the customers, suppliers, and any other person who may be associated with the organization in one way or another. The corporate image too will improve because the organization will be more people oriented than in the past. In the previous years, the profits and customers it wants to drive the organization (Gilley & Maybunich, 2000, 79). Corporate image will ensure the stability and general performance increase from the employees because they will be motivated in whatever they will be doing. Other benefits include improved ability to manage change, independence and liberty, expanded boundaries, dedicated, and committed work force, improved personal, and spiritual well being, improved customer relations, and avoidance of decline or poor performance. The competitive advantage of the organization will be extremely high and most likely the organization will dominate the market because it will outperform its competitors (Argyris, & Schön, 2001, 49). How proposed plan should be sustained after implementation in order to become part of the organization culture and project team The proposal plan can be sustained to become part of the organization culture in many ways. To improve the plan, a strong sound base should be build before learning organization starts. A solid foundation is necessary, and all staff of the organization should be involved from start to the implementation time. To sustain it for long once it has been implemented, control and evaluation should be continuous so as to determine whether there is an improvement or not. All new employees should undergo a training session or orientation so that they can they can understand of the importance of the program to the organization and as an individual. Always create awareness to employees on how the learning organization should be improved to the next level (Argyris, & Schön, 2001, 119). Reward those who perform exceptionally well in maintaining and improving the system. Creating awareness must be seen in all levels of the organization and not only in the top management. A learning culture can be sustained among the staff because survival for the fittest will depend on the knowledge the employees will have acquired. The changes in the organization within the organization should be supported from the top management; hence, the new culture will be sustained in the end for the benefit of the organization. The awareness will be manifested through commitment and dedication through personal development, valuing and respecting all the people and divergent opinions in the organization. With this respect, the proposed plan will be sustained or maintained throughout the organization (Argyris, & Schön, 2001, 43). The learning environment must be in place for learning to take place without interruption. A decentralized environment will sustain the culture for a long time because it will be positioned and developed into a learning organization. Learning organization should be an organic structure that will encourage and motivate managers and staff to work as a united team; hence. This will improve the mode of communication and coordination with each other within the organization. The culture can be maintained also through accountability, responsibility, and authority for employees will be allowed to solve the problems within the organization. Everybody should be provided with freedom so that they can do what they can in the best way possible. An organization with a flat structure will enhance the free flow of communication in all directions, and it will improve creativity, and innovation among the top management and staff. By fully supporting, the plan continuously will ensure it is sustained to become part of the organization culture (Argyris, & Schön, 2001, 120). Leadership is a factor that is pertinent in ensuring the learning organization become part of the culture of the organization. Leaders who will support the learning organization will ensure it becomes part of the culture of the organization. Leaders or managers of the organization should be able to able to encourage the culture by being the role models themselves. The leaders should understand the mistakes and errors as part of the process so that employees can appreciate its importance; hence, becoming a culture within the organization. The leaders must provide a sense of commitment and dedication in terms of resources such as time, personnel, and money in order to build a strong culture that is appreciated by everyone. Learning organization will only become a culture, which can be sustained if the top management will fully support it no matter the situation (Gilley & Maybunich, 2000, 86). Learning organization can also become a culture in the organization if employees are empowered. If all employees at ABC Health Care are given a chance to make decisions and take action through the program, then a culture will be sustained after its implementation. It is necessary to monitor all the happenings and adjust where needs to be for it to remain of the organization culture (Argyris, & Schön, 2001, 121). Employees in the ABC Health Care facility will make it a culture if they are empowered in order for them to feel part of the organization; hence, ensuring the culture is sustained. Because employees will be motivated, they will encourage one another to ensure the culture is maintained because they will benefit from it. This will benefit them and the organization because they can learn from one another, therefore, improving and sustaining the culture. Learning will help sustain the culture after implementation because learning is a continuous process that will help the people grow and learn new things. Most employees will be eager to learn more; hence, helping to sustain the culture in the organization (Gilley & Maybunich, 2000, 87). Critical Path analysis showing the stepping-stones to implementation and plan project To implement the learning organization plan, it should first be explained to all workers what it is all about to them and the organization. The employees should be consulted for the way forward on its importance to them and the organization. Implementation is critical for the success of the learning organization program initiated at the ABC Health Care facility. First, identification of the requirements of the employees, and what the organization wants to achieve. This will ensure the opportunities are analyzed then selected (Argyris, & Schön, 2001, 52). The opportunities will help the organization attain the goals within the specified time. Opportunities are analyzed so that all the objectives of the organization are linked. After analysis of opportunities, identification of the aims will be the next step. The aim of the ABC Health Care facility is to improve performance of the employees. Secondly, it is the aim of the organization is to expand its services, increase its customer base, and to provide high-quality services that will make the company gain competitive advantage (Argyris, & Schön, 2001, 122). Aims or objectives are significant because they are the main reason for the existence of an organization. Failure of the top management to identify these objectives, it will lead to poor performance of the organization. The top management will analyze the opportunities of the organization and its aims. This is because they are the main decision makers in the organization. The next step is to explore the options then select the best. There are many options but the top managers including the functional heads will select the best based on the advantages of each option. The advantages and disadvantages are weighted then the best is chosen (Argyris, Schön, 2001, 123). The best option will be based on the funds available and the time required achieving that option’s objectives. Detailed planning will follow where the options selected are prioritized so that the most agent ones are implemented first. The supervisors and line managers are assigned the responsibility of prioritizing and implementing. Plan evaluation is the next step because it will help know whether the option is viable or not (Argyris, & Schön, 2001, 53). Implementation of the plan is the next step where the employees in all departments will participate for it achieve its intended purpose. Implementation will cut across all the departments because learning will help all employees irrespective of their positions and roles in the organization. Evaluation will be conducted to determine whether objectives have been made or not. Identify objectives; select the best option, assigning responsibility, implementation, and evaluation. References Argyris, C., & Schön, D. 2001. Organizational learning: A theory of action perspective, Reading, Mass: Addison Wesley. Pp. 43-53 Argyris, C. and Schön, D. 2006. Organizational learning II: Theory, method and practice, Reading, Mass: Addison Wesley. Pp. 112-123 Gilley, J. W., & Maybunich, A. 2000. Beyond the Learning Organization. Creating a culture of continuous growth and development through state-of-the-art human resource practices, Cambridge, Mass.: Perseus Books. pp. 78-87 Read More