The Faster Learning Organization: Gain and Sustain the Competitive Edge (Warren Bennis Executive Briefing Series) [Hardcover]

Bob Guns (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 29, 1996 | ISBN-10: 0893842753 | ISBN-13: 978-0893842758 | Edition: 1

In May 1961, three years after the Soviet Union had launched the world's first satellite into orbit, President John F. Kennedy stood before Congress and uttered the unimaginable: "I believe this nation should commit itself, before the decade is out, to landing a man on the moon...." Inspired by these words, NASA accelerated its journey toward this unparalleled technological challenge and became, for a time, a Faster Learning Organization, or FLO.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Learn how your company can accomplish amazing things in record time. Using NASA's extraordinary lunar-landing initiative as a touchstone—a race that hinged on the rapid development and implementation of unparalleled technology—consultant Bob Guns shows today's organizations how they too can sustain competitive advantage in a hypercompetitive marketplace and position themselves for success well into the future.In concise, everyday language, Guns not only explains precisely what a Faster Learning Organization (FLO) is, he outlines each step an organization must take in order to become one. Included are all the strategies, tactics, skills, and measurement tools necessary to? Create superior products and services customers consistently choose? Use new technology to its full advantage? Reduce cycle time? Become more innovative and resilient? Strengthen and reinforce the ability to change? Focus on overall, long-term improvement and vision? Act realisticallyAs it did for NASA, faster organizational learning can keep your company ahead of the competition and transport it, warp speed, into the 21st century. With this book, Bob Guns provides the launching pad. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Back Cover

Learn how your company can accomplish amazing things in record time. Using NASAs extraordinary lunar-landing initiative as a touchstone¾a race that hinged on the rapid development and implementation of unparalleled technology¾consultant Bob Guns shows todays organizations how they too can sustain competitive advantage in a hypercompetitive marketplace and position themselves for success well into the future.
In concise, everyday language, Guns not only explains precisely what a Faster Learning Organization (FLO) is, he outlines each step an organization must take in order to become one. Included are all the strategies, tactics, skills, and measurement tools necessary to
· Create superior products and services customers consistently choose
· Use new technology to its full advantage
· Reduce cycle time
· Become more innovative and resilient
· Strengthen and reinforce the ability to change
· Focus on overall, long-term improvement and vision
· Act realistically
As it did for NASA, faster organizational learning can keep your company ahead of the competition and transport it, warp speed, into the 21st century. With this book, Bob Guns provides the launching pad.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass; 1 edition (January 29, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0893842753
• ISBN-13: 978-0893842758
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,904,208 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Easy, worthwhile evening read for busy execs, January 16, 2001

By 

Stephen M Theobald (Cincinnati, OH United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Faster Learning Organization: Gain and Sustain the Competitive Edge (Warren Bennis Executive Briefing) (Paperback)

"Learning Organizations" are the latest Org Dev (O.D.) hype. I usually delight in trashing the latest management fad and worthless book to take your money (ala "FISH", by Lundin), but there is something to like here. While under the covers, the concept of the Learning Organization is nothing really new, it encompasses a lot of concepts covered in a wide range of other "fad" books.

A good blend of short case study examples and easy theory. Reminds me of the "In Search of Excellence" format. The theory part is not overdone, and is tied to some simple acronyms, such as DIFFPAT and FLO, which you can remember. Theory of how teams learn and how companies can utilize that learning is what the book is really all about. Gives different strategic approaches based on which area (HR, workgroups, execs) initiates the strategy.

The book would be most helpful if combined with some material or reading about how individuals learn - such as the auditory, visual, and physical styles, and how organizations could create LO's using these elements.