The learning organisation and the innovative organisation

Issue title: Corporation: An Intelligent Complex Adaptive System

Guest editors: Thow Yick Liang

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Ng, Pak Tee

Affiliations: Policy and Leadership Studies Academic Group, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 1, Nanyang Walk, S(637616), Republic of Singapore, Tel.: +65 6790 3252; Fax: +65 6896 9151; E-mail: ptng@nie.edu.sg

Abstract: Nowadays, many organisations launch initiatives with lofty aims to develop themselves into “learning organisations” and “innovative organisations”. This article reviews the literature on the concepts of “learning organisation” and “innovative organisation” and argues that the innovative organisation can be developed from the foundation of the learning organisation. The five disciplines of learning organisation are fundamental to effective innovation. The spirit of innovation is an exercise in personal mastery. Thinking out of the box is an exercise in challenging mental models. To develop a truly innovative organisation, people should share the same vision for innovation. They should work closely and find synergy in teams because a team is more powerful than the sum of the individuals. Systems thinking allows the organisation to innovate in the areas where the highest payoff can be reaped and develop the platform to sustain innovation.

Keywords: Learning organisation, innovation, change, personal mastery, mental models, shared vision, team learning, systems thinking

DOI: 10.3233/HSM-2004-23204

Journal: Human Systems Management, vol. 23, no. 2, pp. 93-100, 2004