Learning organizationsBy Javaria Mazhar

Learning Organizations

Learning

Organizations are:

Organizations that acquire knowledge and innovate fast enough to survive and thrive in a rapidly changing environment. 

Definitions:

 

• Learning organizations [are] organizations where people continually expand their capacity to create the results they truly desire, where new and expansive patterns of thinking are nurtured, where collective aspiration is set free, and where people are continually learning to see the whole together. (Senge 1990: 3)

Learning organizations :

•  Create a culture that encourages and supports continuous employee learning,  critical thinking, and risk taking with new ideas

• Allow mistakes, and value employee contributions

• Learn from experience and experiment

• Disseminate the new knowledge throughout the organization for incorporation into day-to-day activities.

A learning organization has five main features;

• systems thinking,

• personal mastery,

• mental models,

• shared vision

• team learning.

Systems thinking

• The idea of the learning organization developed from a body of work called thinking.  Systems thinking states that all the characteristics must be apparent at once in an organization for it to be a learning organization.

Personal mastery.

• The commitment by an individual to the process of learning is known as personal mastery. There is a competitive advantage for an organization whose workforce can learn more quickly than the workforce of other organizations.

Mental models.

• The assumptions held by individuals and organizations are called mental models. To become a learning organization, these models must be challenged.

Shared vision.

•  The development of a shared vision is important in motivating the staff to learn, as it creates a common identity that provides focus and energy for learning.

Team learning. 

• The accumulation of individual learning constitutes Team learning. The benefit of team or shared learning is that staff grows more quickly and the problem solving capacity of the organization is improved.

Benefits

• Maintaining levels of innovation and remaining competitive

• Being better placed to respond to external pressures

• Having the knowledge to better link resources to customer needs

• Improving quality of outputs at all levels

• Increasing the pace of change within the organization

Challenges in the transformation to a Learning Organization

• The first is that an organization does not have enough time.

•  Employees and management may have other issues that take priority over trying to change the culture of their organization.

• In addition, organizational size may become the barrier to internal knowledge sharing

SOLUTION

• As a solution, a mentor or coach who is well versed in the learning organization concept may be necessary.

Organization studied

FAIZA’S SPA AND BEAUTY SALON

• STARTED IN 2002

• OWNER- FAIZA ABASS

• ORGANIZATION TYPE- BEAUTY SALON AND TRAINING CENTRE

• CUSTOMERS- LADIES

• HEAD BRANCH- G10 MARKAZ IBD

• OTHER BRANCH- BAHRIA TOWN

Faiza’s salon as a learning organization:

• As a learning organization this salon continuously upgrades the knowledge of its employees according to the changing fashion and desires of its clients.

• Faiza Abbas and Uzma Abbass: sister of Faiza are working hard in both of their branches to manage their all departments , and had appointed head in charge of each department such as makeup department, hair cutting and hair treatment department and so on.

Periodic courses of L’Oreal products:

TA’s of the company comes and guides the employees about latest techniques and products.

Competitions to encourage employees:

This salon arranges competition for active learning of its employees

Nail art

• Now a days nail art is very popular among girls Faiza’s salon provide up to date fashion knowledge about nail art and gives its clients a wide range of choice.

Nail art:

This salon gives special offers on occasions like wedding seasons, Eid festivals and so on.

Special offers :

We Care your skin "REPECHAGE" 

• FAIZA's Introducing MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY new way to treat your SKIN.

Repêchage:

• Repêchage is an internationally acclaimed beauty & spa brand, Repêchage pioneers the latest in marine biotechnology and seaweed science to deliver complete collections for skincare, cosmetics, body & bath.

Styling and Makeup by Faiza's for Annual Parent Day of Roots

• Annual Parent Day of Roots Millennium School Emaar Campus & Wonderland Campus Islamabad

• Makeup Styling was done by  Faiza's Beauty Saloon

STRENGHTS

• They have hygienic environment

• Latest products and techniques

• Up to date fashion knowledge

• Latest equipments

• Quality of work.

• WEAKNESSES

• They don’t have large amount of investment to open other branches at this time

• Lack of advertising on social medias

• Less common then other big brands.

• Opportunities:

• To increase their chain of salons in other cities of Pakistan.

• Advertise like their competitors

• Model make-ups and penetration in fashion industry.

• Threats :

• Big signature names like Deplex and Tariq Amin.

• Salon’s opening at domestic level.

• Economic conditions of Pakistan.

• Law and order situations of Pakistan .

Conclusion

• Faiza’s beauty salon proves to be a learning organization, which is continuously learning and up dating according to its customers

need by providing them

the quality and value.

Recommendations

• Expand their branches in other cities of Pakistan.

• Focus on advertising

• Needs market penetration in

fashion industry and have more

signature shoots to compete the

big brand of beauty spas.