ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING - A GUIDE FOR EXECUTIVES IN TECHNOLOGY-CRITICAL ORGANIZATIONS

The focus of this article is on learning by technology-critical organi zations, that is, organizations that are critically dependent on their knowledge of technology and that function in environments where techn ological change presents serious threats and opportunities. The articl e provides guidance to those managers who want their organizations to be learning organizations. It describes effective but often overlooked approaches for transforming everyday organizational experiences into organizational knowledge, and it introduces ideas for adding to the jo b responsibilities of managers and technical personnel the role of env ironmental sensor. In addition, it calls attention to the particular u sefulness of information technology as a significant component of an o rganization's memory. Finally, through examples and suggestions, the a rticle introduces the idea that everyday organizational activities can be transformed into learning opportunities.