Dialogue is exploration of thoughts by a group of individuals through frank
exchange of views. Based on Boham’s analysis, Senge (1990) has given three pre-
conditions for dialogues:
- All participants must suspend their preconceived assumptions.
- All participants must regard each other as colleagues at work.
- A facilitator is must for dialogues, who will be responsible for maintaining the
context in which the dialogue is held. - Discussion: Discussion is more about presenting and defending ones view point. It is
more focused. Defending ones view point is likely to dominate ones discussion more.
In discussion a team may fail to see the short comings of their view point and may
consider other participants as invaders:
The members show genuine respect for each of the other members. Even
if they disagree strongly in their views on specific issues, they
nevertheless respect the other members as human persons of value. (Hitt,
1996)
Team learning will help to establish a well coordinated team. Team performance is
enhanced with the development of a system thinking approach.
2.2.5. System Thinking.............................................
System thinking is based on the concept that individuals are able to see the parts and are
able to relate the parts as integrated whole. Mintzberge and Quinn (1993) explain system
thinking as seeing interrelationships and not things and process, not snapshots. This
means that the individuals are able to understand and analyze the process separately, as
well as the interrelatedness of the processes and they are able to see their impact on one
another and they should also be able to understand how they contribute and how they are
affected by the system. Finally, the individuals are able to perceive the role of those