Drivers of organizational learning

Another of my posts from the online debate we are having about organizational learning in the 21st century. The "swarm" conversation is facilitated by Viv Read from Australia, who now is involved with the The Cynefin Centre.

"I think it is impossible to look at these drivers without considering what is going on in the world at large.

So, if I offer three "tenets" for the 21st century, they would be:

1. The science is Biology, and the organizational metaphors will thus all be about biology, adaptation and networks of activity. The 19th Century was all about mechanics, and the 20th was all about physics - and these got reflected in our organizational metaphors and design (with apologies to Gareth Morgan). Now we move on.

2. The focus will be on customer and employee engagement, forging "hearts and minds" connections which cut through the traditional structures and ways of working. This is not the same as relationship management - it is deeper and more meanigful to both sides of the transaction.

3. The geography will be China.

And if I am allowed to offer a fourth, it would be:

4. Idea Stars. We invented movie stars, then sports stars, now business (consultant?) stars. Idea stars are next. In fact, they are already here ...."