The Learning-Driven Business: How to Develop an Organizational Learning Ecosystem

Description

In any kind of organization, learning has become a vital part of the growth and development process, but it only produces effective results if it is pursued strategically and embedded deeply into the culture of the workplace. In recent years, there has been a growing consensus that, for many organizations, learning is their only sustainable competitive advantage - ensuring a committed and engaged workforce that is positioned to identify and exploit business opportunities in an increasingly volatile and uncertain world. This makes it essential for leaders and senior managers to investigate the full range of learning processes and to understand exactly how individual, group, machine and organization-wide learning can produce long-lasting results for individuals as well as for the company itself. Backed by new academic theory, yet designed to be completely accessible to a business readership, The Learning-Driven Business highlights the importance of Organizational Learning (OL) for organizations which wish to remain competitive and profitable, before clarifying the various pathways and frameworks that can lead to success. With the onset of automation and artificial intelligence, as well as the proliferation of redundancies and the economic instability of modern times, organizations and their employees must prioritise effective OL in order to overcome these challenges and remain competitive and relevant in the 21st century. This book is a guide for all business leaders and academics looking to adapt to the changing world through OL, using Garand & Golds' unique and original academic model.

Alaa Garad is a Senior Teaching Fellow at the University of Portsmouth and a Visiting Professor at the Arab Academy for Science and Technology. He is a trustee of the Institute of Commercial Management and a Fellow at The Learning and Performance Institute. Alongside his academic experience, Alaa is an award-winning executive with over 20 years of experience in designing, leading and managing projects in various sectors. Jeff Gold is co-founder of the HRD and Leadership Research Unit at Leeds Business School and the Director of the DBA programme at Leeds Beckett University. He is also the Professor of Organisation Learning at York Business School. He has worked as a consultant with organizations such as the NHS, Hallmark Cards and the Police Service, and is the co-author of Human Resource Management, now in its 6th edition.

An organisation that strives to improve performance must have the ethos of learning at its core. This insightful and practical book acts as a comprehensive guide for leaders to help them develop and embed a sustainable and effective culture of learning into their organisation's DNA. -- Russell Longmuir, CEO, EFQM Brussels Individuals and organisations are either growing or dying. In these disruptive times, there is no stasis. Learning is the key to growth. Alaa and Jeff's work is well-researched and practical. You can apply it straight away to develop yourself, your leaders and your organisation. -- Andy Lothian, CEO, Insights Group With the nature of work rapidly changing, organisations and businesses need to evolve in new ways if they are to flourish. This timely contribution sets out a clear roadmap to success that will allow organisations to not just survive, but thrive. -- Jamie Cooke, Head of RSA Scotland Garad and Gold offer a compelling treatise on the importance of learning and review examples to highlight practices that enable the kinds of collective, organisational learning that our turbulent world needs in abundance. -- Robert MacIntosh, Professor of Strategic Management, Heriot-Watt University and Chair, Chartered Association of Business Schools Learning is to do with business and success. Learning is necessary to run a business effectively and at every opportunity, if you see them, is to make it a success. The world is changing, and people are changing; Alaa and Jeff have written this book for people to succeed. -- Dr Edward de Bono, psychologist, physician and author of 'Six Thinking Hats' Filled with illuminating research and case studies, The Learning-Driven Business is an essential in-depth resource for anyone looking to enhance the effectiveness of their business in today's rapidly changing world. -- Angelo Xuereb, Chairman, AX Group The Learning-Driven Business is both a call to action to firms to cultivate a culture of learning as well as a roadmap for how to do so. In it, the authors Alaa and Jeff have managed to achieve a wonderful balance of theory and the practice. This is an excellent read for practitioners, researchers, executives and policymakers. -- Jaideep Prabhu, Professor of Marketing, Judge Business School, University of Cambridge & Co-author of 'Jugaad Innovation' This book is a must-read for all top management who do not want their organization to be left behind. I found the section elaborating on the difference between Organizational Wide Learning and Organizational Learning specifically interesting and one of the distinguishing concepts presented in this book. -- Dr Ahmed Darwish, Former Minister for Administration Development, Egypt Captures various dimensions of learning through the contours of time and space, forecasting the future and bringing it closer to the present. Garad and Gold unravel the power of learning exemplified through compelling management insights and global best practices. It's definitely a much-needed intellectual and practical resource for busy practitioners and researchers. -- Roland K. Yeo Ph.D., strategic HR Advisor, Saudi Aramco and author, Stanford University Press An indispensable read on the vital importance of learning - the competitive advantage that organizations and leaders can't live without. Practical and actionable advice for those who want to accomplish more and make a positive difference. -- Dr Palena Neale, Founder, Unabridged Leadership & Regular Contributor to Forbes and Harvard Business Review Individual and organizational learning is absolutely essential to succeed and sustain in a fast-changing world. This book provides a significant contribution to organizational learning and business improvement literature. It is simple and easy to read, with many practical examples of how learning can be applied to create an organizational learning culture. -- Professor Robin Mann, Director, Centre for Organizational Excellence Research & Chairman, Global Benchmarking Network, New Zealand To adapt to an ever-changing world, developing a learning mind-set and working in an organization that proactively encourages and invests in creating a learning culture is more critical than ever. Alaa and Jeff have created a very easy to read, a comprehensive guide packed full of timely reminders, case studies and practical ways to kick start a sustainable learning behaviour for both individuals and organizations. -- Karen Leftley, President, British Quality Foundation In a world of perpetual change, nothing is more important than to talk about innovation, change, creativity and improvement as various kinds of learning processes. A deeper and better understanding of learning in all its forms and locales is well represented in this book which should become essential reading for all consultants, managers, coaches, and teachers. -- Edgar H. Schein, Professor Emeritus, MIT Sloan School of Management, co-author of 'Humble Inquiry' and 'The Corporate Culture Survival Guide' Learning is one of life's most important endeavours. In The Learning-Driven Business, Alaa and Jeff make a compelling case that modern businesses must adopt a learning-driven mind-set in order to survive and thrive. A vital book for leaders who understand the importance of listening and learning and want to embed this into their culture. -- Will Read, CEO, Sideways 6 It's noticeable that innovation is leading to the rise of successful businesses. There is no doubt that the trigger for this is one word: 'learning', a concept which the authors expertly deliver through this book. -- Maher Elsherif, Minister Plenipotentiary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Egypt By scrutinizing every aspect of learning, Garad and Gold manage to prove once and for all that, learning strategies must be at the core of any organization willing to endure in time. -- Newton M. Campos, Professor of Entrepreneurship & Innovation and IE University Country Director, Brazil Alaa & Jeff have astutely provided well-researched and easy to understand insightful representations that can help businesses learn and adapt to changing environments. -- Shane Deniz, Vice President of Product Development & Innovation, MasterCard A quiet, solid read that oozes authority and commitment. This is not just an intellectual exercise but huge, well-researched labour of love delivered with passionate detail. It brings insights and processes that will deliver the potential and excitement of building a genuine learning-driven business. Buy it, read it and learn from it. -- Nigel Paine, author and presenter Our world is changing rapidly and the old models for learning simply cannot deliver business value. Systemic change is needed. This book offers a valuable contribution to that change. It provides insights and direction to help exploit the power of learning in practice. -- Charles Jennings, 70:20:10 Institute In a fast-changing world, Alaa Garad and Jeff Gold's book provides a guide for leaders on how to keep their organizations engaged, relevant, and resilient during times of high uncertainty. -- Dr Mahmoud Mohieldin, Executive Director of the IMF, United Nations Special Envoy for the 2030 Agenda With digitalization powering change to even faster rates, a learning-driven business is becoming the way to stay competitive in a fast-changing global marketplace. This book provides well-researched ideas and insights that you can apply to your business today. -- Mark Fritz, leadership specialist and author Alaa and Jeff explore diverse ways to achieve a learning culture through case studies and showcase the importance of both formal and informal learning with a modern approach considering the Covid-19 crisis and new technologies. A must-read for leaders. -- Luciana Paulise Forbes contributor, author, and Deputy Director at the American Society for Quality