Tuesday 15 October 2013

The Fifth Discipline Fieldbook - a review


[Originally published on the Aspley Consultants website]

A couple of months ago, I read “The Fifth Discipline Fieldbook” and heartily recommend it to anyone seeking skills and knowledge to help organisations learn about themselves and the world around them.

It is not a quick read, nor is it intended to be.  However, it is a very user-friendly aid that should be kept close to hand for quick reference.

Each chapter in the main section of the book examines a learning discipline (i.e. Systems Thinking, Personal Mastery, Shared Vision, Mental Models and Team Learning) and contains exercises, reading recommendations and case-studies that combine to place Peter Senge’s original, “The Fifth Discipline” in a wider and more practical context.

The book finishes with more case studies and examples of how emerging technologies (e.g. modelling and simulation) can help organisations un-tap their learning potential.  However, it is in these sections that the book is really showing its age and could do with a significant update.  The absence of any mention of the internet, emails or any form of online collaboration is unfortunate, to say the least.

Nevertheless, I would encourage practitioners and others keen on developing a learning culture to acquire this book and take from it as much as they can.

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