In Lernende Organisationen, Uwe Vigenschow reveals best practices for fostering continuous learning within companies and public authorities. His insights provide a roadmap for cultivating a culture of organizational learning.
The Cynefin framework is crucial for understanding the complexities of software, requiring organizations to prioritize maintenance, improvement, and evolution. Peter Drucker first introduced the idea of knowledge work in 1959, opening the door to innovation management. In macroeconomics, Kondratiev Waves illustrate the cyclical nature of progress, influencing thinkers like Joseph Schumpeter with his concept of creative destruction. As we navigate the Information Age since the 1970s, organizations must rapidly adapt to new technologies or lead innovation.
AI presents transformative potential similar to the rise of spreadsheets with the personal computer or the assembly line in manufacturing. Just as the microprocessor revolution shaped the past, generative AI may signal a new Kondratiev wave. Generative AI started around 50 years after the rise of personal computers with visionary companies like Apple and Microsoft. Is it maybe a new Kondratiev wave that comes up every 40–60 years? The full impact will be assessed in the years to come. The recent Nobel Prize in Economics highlights the value of creative destruction.
In an agile environment, innovation and learning belong to every team member. The key question is, how can organizations structure themselves to systematically drive innovation and consistently elevate their products? Due to the strong competition in AI from international leaders and competitors, it can force organizations to make organizational learning a high management priority.
This book is not limited to the software industry or IT. Especially so-called hidden champions must protect or cover their niches and do it better than the market average. The provided best practices help to implement routines for learning organization-wide; they can also identify knowledge gaps. To be outdated or not efficient is the high risk for higher-priced services and products. By embracing organizational learning, it empowers companies to spread knowledge across their critical areas, paving the way for a brighter future. Thanks to Uwe and his co-authors.
Further Reading
- Die Ungleichung lernender Organisationen,Informatik Aktuell
- Understanding sustained growth: the 2025 Nobel Prize and why it matters for Europe,ECB