Creating the Learning Organisation

This subject is not offered in 2015.

340 hours

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For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry.

The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

This subject provides an introduction to what is meant by a `learning organisation' and `organisational learning'. The term `learning organisation' has become increasingly popular in organisational theory and the management and change literatures. An organization, firm, or school that is capable of learning is deemed to be better at adapting to rapidly changing external circumstances and become more productive and efficient in accomplishing its goals. In talking about an organization that learns, the subject examines the various reasons for learning; the meaning of organisational as separate from individual learning; the different levels and type of learning, as well as structures and processes which either facilitate or hinder the learning which happens in organizations. Of particular importance are the concepts of the distribution of cognitive labour and socially distributed cognition which indicate that learning happens at all organisational levels. Some suggestions are made on how such organisational learning can be structured more efficiently in school, and non-school organisations alike.

Not available

A paper of 6,000 words (75 per cent) and a research paper of 2,000 words (25 per cent), presented as a class paper.

Attendance at all classes (tutorial/seminars/practical classes/lectures/labs/online classes) is obligatory. Failure to attend 80% of classes will normally result in failure in the subject.

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Argyris, C. and Schon, D. Organizational Learning II, Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley, 1996.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.