Critical Review of the Concept of the Learning Organization and the Learning Enterprise

This chapter, entitled “Critical review of the concept of the learning organization and the learning enterprise,” from the third part of the book Managing Learning Enterprises, entitled “Possibilities of implementing the concept of a learning organization and enterprise,” highlights numerous problem areas in the implementation of learning organizations, some of which represent real dangers in the implementation of this philosophy and others that deserve to be discredited and debunked. First, the problem of implementing learning disciplines at the individual level was discussed, which are inherently human but require willingness, effort, and dedicated perseverance. The possibility of implementing learning disciplines was discussed through the prism of modern formal education leading to individual career goals. Then there is the problem of organizational democratization when it comes to reaching consensus on shared visions and mental models. Lack of consensus on learning organization ideas and a positivist nature of research were also identified as factors that do not contribute to faster implementation of learning organization ideas. Issues such as individuals identifying with the characteristics of theory X or Y and prior learning experiences were discussed, as well as the fact that constant learning, change, and transformation are challenging for people and disrupt their sense of stability, which can lead to discomfort and stress. However, learning organizations were identified as organizations made up of people with a different mindset and a higher level of awareness, which is explained in more detail in the last chapter of the book.