Reflecting, Refining and Reshaping an Essential Strategy

It is now sixteen years since Peter Senge published his much needed and very popular book "The Fifth Discipline". The Learning Organisation concept is still very much alive in many organisations, and the thinking of Peter Senge, and those inspired by his ideas, continues to influence the thinking and acting of many managers. However, the world has moved on and the Learning Organisation concept has evolved to meet the challenges of the Knowledge Economy.

E.C.L.O. has been to the fore in stimulating debate and disseminating new ideas over this period, however, the time is now right to pose new questions as to how far the LO-concept should be recast, revitalized, or reinvented to fit the conditions of modern organisations and add value to their coping with new challenges.

 

We hope and expect that our 2007 conference will prove to be a landmark event in this respect and would welcome your proposed contribution to what is always a stimulating forum for the dissemination of original and challenging ideas.

E.C.L.O. is pleased to announce the Call for Contributions for its 13^th international conference entitled: Learning Organisations in the 21^st Century Reflecting, Refining and Reshaping an Essential Strategy

The conference will be held in partnership with Glasgow Caledonian University Business School from Wednesday 30^th May to Friday 1^st June 2007 and provides a great opportunity for you to exchange ideas, reflect upon current practice and be part of an established Community of Practice (CoP) committed to individual and organisational learning.

As an organisation, E.C.L.O. recognises the value of experience and learning, and seeks to develop theory into practice and practice into theory and as such, contributions can be made in either of the following categories:

• working and practice papers (only a short summary is needed)

• refereed and academic papers (abstracts only in first instance)

CONFERENCE FORMAT

An E.C.L.O. conference has a unique "feel" with open dialogue, friendly critique and reflective space, and in it´s desire to avoid death by PowerPoint, is an exciting departure from most conferences and will meet the needs of both practitioners and academics alike. We are planning to run parallel sessions that include

• standard presentation of papers, for knowledge immersion;

• workshops, for open dialogue;

• and some loosely structured sessions with Open Space, Social Network Stimulation and World/Knowledge Café, for knowledge sharing and exploration.

In addition to this we will also be presenting the E.C.L.O. Innovation Awards 2007, for the following categories:

• E.C.L.O. Academic Award - for the most ground breaking doctoral / academic contribution

• E.C.L.O. Practitioner Award - for the most pioneering case-study

• E.C.L.O. Impact Award - for the presentation having the greatest personal impact

Not only will the three winners get the Award but they will also be invited to be included in E.C.L.O.´s post conference edition of their "Learner" journal, (ISSN - 1378-9031).

 

CONFERENCE THEME

 In keeping with the dynamics and diversity of the Learning Organisation in the 21^st century, we seek contributions which will foster discussion and debate along the following interrelated strands • Strategy and Critical Thinking in the Learning Organisation (L.O.)

• How the principles of the L.O. assist in the acceptance of Knowledge Management initiatives

• Organisational Culture and Leadership in the L.O.

• Improving Performance in a L.O., through Integration of Learning and Work

• The role of the L.O. in Leading Change in a Complex Interdependent World

• Tools and Techniques to Develop Creativity, Innovation and Learning in an L.O.

 

 CONFERENCE CONTRIBUTORS

 E.C.L.O. warmly welcomes submissions from corporate practitioners, consultants, academics and researchers in the hope that together we can improve our understanding of the current challenges facing organisations, and consequently inform and influence future directions and theories.

We are seeking a variety of practical demonstrations from organisations on implementations of L.O. tools and concepts; the lessons they have learnt; and any unresolved issues that they may wish to explore with other delegates. Presentations which pay particular attention to defining the special qualities of learning leadership, and how this influences the outcomes of the learning challenges, will be particularly welcome. In keeping with one of it´s principles of being a Learning Laboratory, E.C.L.O. is interested in providing a forum for organisations and individuals who are experimenting with new ideas or piloting new tools and techniques and wish to gain constructive feedback.

Each session will last for a maximum of 45 minutes (including discussion time) and as part of the programme, we will set aside additional time for networking and knowledge exploration.

 For this initial call, we are seeking no more than 200 words indicating your interests, the format or methodology you propose, as well as your contact details. The deadline for this initial expression of interest is Friday 22nd December 2006.

 Thereafter all submissions will be assessed by an international committee consisting of representatives from the corporate, academic and consultancy fields. The conference programme will be structured and produced and feedback provided to all those who submitted proposals.

Please mark your submission clearly, and provide the additional information (shown below) to help us ensure your input gets the best exposure and attendance.

 Which of the following most closely represents your planned input?

• An academic paper detailing theoretical or conceptual study

• A practitioner based case study to be shared

• A problem to be further explored with the conference delegates

• Tools and techniques*

How do you plan to deliver your session?

• Workshop (state room layout preferred, though not guaranteed)

• Discussion forum (state room layout preferred, though not guaranteed)

• Part presentation part interactive discussion

What presentation format do you intend to use?

• No presentation material required, just voice (state if microphone)

• PowerPoint presentation slides

• Video/DVD

• Flip chart and wipe board

• Handouts and paper questionnaires

• Other e.g. Internet connection (please state)

* Please note that whereas direct marketing of products is not permissible in the main conference programme, there are a range of sponsorship opportunities and interested parties should direct their enquiries to Jim.Jack@eclo.org

 

As in previous years, in recognition of E.C.L.O.´s not-for-profit status and the mutual learning opportunities we provide, we do ask presenters to contribute to the overall costs of staging this major event. However in recognition of their special contribution speakers will be offered a preferential rate which includes one years membership of E.C.L.O. The E.C.L.O. social programme is as successful as our conference programme and this coming conference is no different, further information will feature on our website www.eclo.org

 

Don´t miss out on experiencing the warmth of Scottish hospitality and the learning opportunity of an E.C.L.O. event, by ensuring your initial expression of interest reaches us by Friday 22^nd December 2006.