The learning organization: Lessons from British petroleum

Abstract

The accelerating pace of change in the business world is causing companies to adapt or die. Improving the organisation through people — creating the “learning organisation” — is critical to this. John Donegan argues that the successful transformation into a learning organisation requires two essential ingredients — integration and strategy. A total or “holistic” approach is needed. British Petroleum has thoroughly explored this, and all the essentials of the learning organisation are in published values and mission statements. But such a major cultural shift requires a deep and genuine belief in the new culture, which faces many obstacles in current management thinking.