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The Importance Of Information Sharing Across Learning Organizations Essay

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Chapter 1: Why is shared information so important in a learning organization in comparison to an efficient performance organization? Discuss how an organization’s approach to sharing information may be related to other elements of organization design such as: structure, tasks, strategy, and culture.

An understanding of the importance of information sharing across learning organizations (LO) vs. efficient performance organizations (EPO) first requires a definition of the two organization types. Peter Senge (1996) explains that LOs are evolving organizations that perform through “systematic problem solving, experimentation with new approaches, learning from the past, learning from the best practices of others and transferring knowledge” (p. 49). Daft (2016) would refer to this as an organic design, and would refer to the hierarchical EPO as having a mechanistic design.

One of the primary differences of these two organizations is the type of communication witnessed at each, and this is driven largely by the source of decision-making. EPOs have a very centralized decision-making process, whereas LOs are very decentralized. Information flow is therefore much more critical in a learning organization, in which decision makers exist throughout the management tiers of the organization. Efficient performance organizations require primarily a one-way flow of information from the top, through the hierarchy, to the worker. This is intuitive, as enabling lower levels to

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