- Is able to relate his vision to that of the organization,
- Understands his role and contribution to the process without making effort to
dominate it and, - At the same time develop a zeal for finding new ways that will help accelerate the
process of achievement of the ultimate goal.
All this would require continuous learning by the individual about himself and the
environment and will have to continuously transform the information into usable
knowledge. The knowledge gained by the individual will in turn help him in adapting his
behavior and performance as needed according to the situation. At this point Senge’s
second approach or concept of shifting of mental models takes over the process of
development towards a learning organization.
2.2.2. Shifting of Mental Models
Mental models are stereotyped concepts that exist in human mind, which have been
strengthened by different kinds of affirming responses and information an individual has
received over a period of time. These models are abstract but when the designated
jargons for these models are mentioned, the individual sees the picture assigned to that
model clearly in his/her mind and he/she can easily relate other information to that
specific model. In order to learn, an organization has to be aware of the mental models
that exist in the company and be aware of the fact that such a model may potentially
block the learning process. (Stewart, 1998)
Discussing this concept, Senge has explained that certain templates exist in
human mind that gives those specific shapes to all the events according to the concepts
that already exist in one’s mind. The events perceived by us are actually structured
according to those templates, outside which we are unable to see as we are programmed
to behave in that specific fashion. (Senge, 1990)
Ausuble(1960), according to his cognitive theory of learning, has put the same
idea in an order that when an individual is a child he begins developing certain concepts
in his mind by gaining information through his senses. As time passes and more concepts