Change: Become a “learning organization” that adapts

Studies have found that “learning organizations” have shared characteristics. They:

1. Are sensitive to their environment and have feelers out constantly gathering information;
2. Have a strong sense of identity, culture and internal advancement;
3. Are tolerant of outliers, experiments and creativity; and
4. Conservatively manage their finances, have an aversion to debt, and value cash.

Related Best Practices

• The Living Company - Learning Organizations
• Changing Your Organization

Author

The author of this page is Terry Gardiner

Terry Gardiner is the founder and President of Silver Lining Seafoods and NorQuest Seafoods - a medium-size Alaska seafood processing company; and currently a Board member of the Anvil Corporation, an employee-owned company specializing in oil and gas engineering.

His co-operative experiences include member director of the Commercial Fishermen Co-operative association; creation of legislation for the Alaska Commercial Fishing and Agriculture Bank; and advisor to the US Dept of Health and Social Services for the state Health CO-OPs.

Terry served ten years as a member of the Alaska House of Representatives -several legislative committee chairmanships, Speaker of the House, Chairman of the Alaska Criminal Code Commission and board member on various state and federal boards and commissions.

His non-profit experiences include National Policy Director for the Small Business Majority in Washington DC; working with the Herndon Alliance and ForTerra.

Terry authored the leadership book, "Six-Word Lessons to Build Effective Leaders: 100 Lessons to Equip Your People to Create Winning Organizations".

For more check: Terry Gardiner Long bio