Just as individuals can learn, so can organizations. When an organization learns, it becomes a situation where “…the sum of the whole becomes greater than the sum of the individual parts.”

We hear much today about the competitive advantage created when organizations learn. Learning at the organizational level creates what is called generative learning, which is distinguished from adaptive learning. Generative learning is where employees are learning consistently, and that continuous learning produces new and innovative ideas that empower the organization to excel far beyond its competitors.

Learning at the organizational level can only occur when individuals learn; and even that is no guarantee. The key is to design a system based on the vision of the company.

The learning culture is a step in that direction, but is not the same as a Learning Organization. The most powerful characteristics of a learning organization are continuous learning, collaboration, experimentation. Failure is considered an opportunity for learning. Citizens are encouraged to take reasonable risks. Transparency and information sharing are also built into the cultural structure.