Organizational climate denotes to the existing conditions within a firm. Learning organizations experience increased levels of flexibility and adapt to different volatile factors in their operational environment. These firms invest in structure employee development and training so that they can continuously enhance their capacity and maintain a competitive advantage in the marketplace (Wheeler, 2016). Peter Senge proposed five disciples of a learning and successful organization. This paper outlines the elements of Senge’s disciplines’ model in relation to organizational learning. The paper also discusses features of an organizational climate which supports learning.
Senge’s Five Disciplines’ Model
Senge proposed a new organizational learning model that consists of five elements or disciplines. Senge concluded that firms must learn continuously and adapt to their changing environment with agility and success. These disciplines include having a shared vision, systems thinking, mental models, team learning and personal mastery. Senge advanced that learning organizations build a shared vision through employees’ interaction with the business (Wheeler, 2016). The model proposes that having a shared vision occurs when organizations and their employees compromise their visions to create one uniform vision. Shared vision allows firms to build strong relationships with employees and attain better performance.
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Secondly, system thinking allows firms to focus on the process of their systems as opposed to individual issues. The discipline implores on managers to understand that actions and their effects are related. Thirdly, Senge asserted that employees should identify the business value of an organization and its business so as develop effective and responsive mental models (Zeeman, 2017). By understanding the two aspects, employees will visualize the direction of their organization and how to attain further development. Further, a learning organization should be flexible and embrace changes to new mental models and company image. Success companies embrace learning and adapt new models to outdo their competitors in the marketplace.
Fourthly, to achieve functional team dynamics, organizations must embrace team learning. Team learning allows the firm to integrate personal mastery and shared vision. The employees should consider colleagues as team members as opposed to rivals (Zeeman, 2017). Fifthly, personal mastery is derived from an individual’s ability to have a clear vision of their goal in addition to accurate perception of reality. Imperatively, Senge’s five discipline model implores on both firms and their employees to have a learning environment for success and attaining a competitive advantage.
Characteristics of a Firm climate that support Organizational Learning
Certain factors in an organization encourage learning. Organizational climate factors like employee rewards create an enabling learning climate in the firm. Employee rewards enhance their eagerness to learn so that they can improve and develop their skills. Establishing an amiable climate and environment is a firm assists in nurturing organizational learning through research and idea generation. Further, organizational unity is essential since it fosters group and team learning (Wheeler, 2016). Team learning is one of the best ways to attain organizational success. In addition, approving and offering requisite support to potential and current organizational leaders is also an essential aspect of creating good climate for learning. Leaders empower and role model for people to increase their participation in leadership training and better managerial approaches. Rewards and recognition allow employees to get motivated to learn and generate ideas for a firm’s long-term sustainability. Consistent training and development programs are a critical component of learning among employees.
Conclusion
It follows that Senge’s business model encourages organizations and their employees to make learning an integral part of their long-term sustainability and competitive advantage in the marketplace and industry. Senge’s disciplines model is an integral component of a successful organization in any industry and business leaders should embrace it.
References
Wheeler, K. (2016). Five Disciplines of Organizational Success. Retrieved from
https://futureoftalent.org/five-disciplines-organizational-success/
Zeeman, A. (2017). Senge’s Five Disciplines of Learning Organizations. Retrieved from
https://www.toolshero.com/management/five-disciplines-learning-organizations/
