Busi 610 Discussion Board 1

Discussion Board Forum 1

Question 1

Why is shared information so important in a learning organization as compared to an efficient performance organization? An efficient performance organization was “pioneered by Frederick Taylor” during the industrial revolution (Daft, 2013, p. 25). This organization was characterized by a strong hierarchy and it focused on efficient performance of a task performed in some area of manufacturing—in Taylor’s case it was the loading and unloading of steel beams. A manager viewing this type of organization would use a structural frame of reference (Daft, 2013, p. 26).

In sharp contrast, a learning organization would be viewed from a symbolic frame of reference. The manager emphasizes “symbols, vision, culture and inspiration” (Daft, 2013, p. 26). Defense Acquisition University would be an example of a learning organization. In a learning organization the product is a trained or educated student, not a physical, manufactured product. In a learning organization, shared information is as important as iron ore is in an efficient performance organization—it is the raw material that the final product is made of. In the steel industry, iron ore makes steel. In a learning organization, shared information helps to manufacture a trained student. Not only is the organization providing information to the student, it is continuously trying to improve the learning process. Shared information is the key to the improvement process.

How would an organization’s approach to information-sharing be related to structure, tasks, strategy, and culture. There are two types of organizations: organic and mechanistic. In a mechanistic organization information sharing would be vertical. The structure of this type of organization is more centralized. In a centralized organization information would be passed up and down the chain of command. Tasks are specialized and “each employee has a specific job description.” In an organic organization,...