Social Learning. Even though social learning is an extension of operant conditioning (e.g., behavior is a function of consequences), it emphasizes the environment in which learning takes place. Social learning emphasizes that people can learn through observation and direct experience. Theorist Albert Bandura, for example, used this theory to explain juvenile delinquency. Young children learn aggressive responses from observing others. Social learning theory believes that learning occurs largely through modeling; the model directly influences the learner. It is the task of the model to transfer the necessary skill or knowledge onto the learning. Please provide examples of this theory in practice. Have you observed other employees modeling behavior as they learned new jobs? Explain. Please respond to at least two of your fellow students’ postings.
Application in the Workplace. Note the application of theories to the workplace. Select one of the following scenarios to discuss. Then, provide an example of your own. Respond to at least two of your fellow students’ postings.
a. Well pay versus sick pay: Most employees take all their sick days. Are organizations reinforcing the wrong behavior?
§ Some companies pay employees a certain amount per sick day not taken.
§ Some have lotteries for prizes and the entries are those employees with perfect attendance.
b. Employee discipline: How far should managers go in the use of punishment?
§ What conditions, if any, do you think justify the use of punishment?
§ Have you ever worked for a boss that used punishment? What was your response?
c. Training: How valuable is training to the learning process?
§ Modeling behaviors?
§ Rewards for new skill development?
Learning Theories. Research the databases in the Ashford University Library for two to three full-text scholarly sources that focus on two learning theories. Submit a two-page overview of the theories and compare and contrast the significant elements of the theories using examples of individual learning in your organization
Why be a Learning Organization? Can a profitable company not be a learning organization? If not, explain your answer. If so, then what is the incentive to change to become a learning organization? Respond to at least two of your fellow students’ postings.
Organizations as Systems. Discuss your own organization as a system. How does information flow – does one department hold back in order not to give away an advantage? Is attention focused more on one type of input when another type of input could provide more leverage? How do groups within the organization view themselves? Respond to at least two of your fellow students’ postings.
Learning Organizations. Research the databases in the Ashford University Library for two to three full-text scholarly sources that focus on learning organizations. Submit a two-page paper that identifies two companies that you believe are learning organizations. Provide supportive evidence of your choice.
Organizational Learning. You are a top manager of a major clothing store. Although the store has been the leader for the last 15 years, competition has resulted in declining sales. You have been asked to design a program to increase the level of organizational learning and recommend ways to promote organizational learning at all levels. Develop a search or information gathering plan to identify:
a. What data is needed?
b. How will it be collected?
c. How will it be disseminated?
Respond to at least two of your fellow students’ postings.
Artifacts, Norms and Assumptions. Reflect on the organization in which you work.
d. Identify some of the artifacts and note what they represent to you and other employees.
e. List some of the espoused values and shared assumptions.
f. Identify some behaviors (in communication and decision making) that reflect some of the values and assumptions.
g. Answer the question: Do the values and assumptions help or hinder moving the organization into a learning organization?
When preparing your response to at least two of your classmates, consider the following:
a. Are the values and assumptions of their organization in alignment with the philosophy of the learning organization?
b. Are there some values and assumptions that do not support the learning organization concept (example: “we don’t change the way we do things around here”)?
c. How can the organization change to be more high-performance, learning organizations?
Respond to at least two of your fellow students’ postings.
Change Management. Research the databases in the Ashford University Library for two to three full-text scholarly sources that focus on change management approaches. Research and submit a two-page paper analyzing change management approaches that support the learning organization philosophy.
2. Reminder. Begin work on your Final Paper which is due in Week 6.
Learning through Experience. Does your organization have a formalized process for reflection and review? Or, is there an informal process that is used by some departments?
a. If affirmative, give examples on how the information gets disseminated through the organization. Why is it important to disseminate information?
b. If negative, why doesn’t a review process happen – or if it does happen, why isn’t the information disseminated?
Respond to at least two of your fellow students’ postings.
Measuring Learning. What learning measurements are used in your organization and do they identify competency gaps? Are these measurements then linked to learning opportunities? Provide your recommendations to improve learning and measurement systems in your organization. Respond to at least two of your fellow students’ postings.
Knowledge Management. Research the databases in the Ashford University Library for two to three full-text scholarly sources that focus on knowledge management. Research and submit a two-page paper analyzing why knowledge management is important to the success of organizations. Provide three examples of knowledge management programs in organizations.
Experimentation. Have you ever been involved in any experimentation in your organization?
a. If so, discuss the process. What were the results?
b. If not, determine an issue for exploratory or hypothesis-testing experimentation in your organization. Outline how the experimentation would be conducted.
Technology Tools. What collaborative technologies does your organization use? Are they effective? Respond to at least two of your fellow students’ postings.
Collaborative Learning. Research the databases in the Ashford University Library for two to three full-text scholarly sources that focus on collaboration. Research and submit a two-page paper analyzing the concept of a collaborative learning community and identifying organizations demonstrating collaborative cultures
Learning Paradigm. Reflect on whether you believe leaders in today’s organizations have the flexibility to move their organizations toward a learning paradigm or are they bombarded by so much external pressure that survival is the focus? Respond to at least two of your fellow students’ postings.
Focus of the Final Paper
Submit an 8-10 page analysis (excluding cover page and references) of your organization as a learning organization. The following questions are to be answered – make sure to include examples:
1. What are the characteristics of the ideal learning organization?
2. What are the observable behaviors for each characteristic?
3. What would be the result of these behaviors?
4. What are barriers to achieving these characteristics?
5. How would I know if the organization was making progress towards becoming a learning organization?
6. Select four characteristics that are most compelling to you and the organization.
7. How can your organization achieve these characteristics?
8. What are the major barriers?
9. Develop strategies to overcome the barriers.
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