Knowledge Management and Organisational Learning in Business Organisations and Biological Systems

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Technical remarks

Preface

Introduction

I. Management Theories on Organisational Learning and Knowledge Management
1.1. A Company’s Driving Forces: The Seven-S-Model (McKinsey & Company, Inc.)
1.2. The Structure of Organisations (Henry Mintzberg)
1.3. The 5th Discipline – Innovating the Learning Organisation (Peter M. Senge)
1.4. The „Peak Performance Organisation“ (PPO)– what Management can learn from Sports Organisations (University of Waikato, New Zealand)
1.5. Workgroups and Virtual Organisations: Fashion or Future?
1.6. The 21st century: „Collaborating to Compete?“
1.7. Drivers for Excellence
1.7.1. Leadership
1.7.2.1. Knowledge Management
1.7.2.2. Information Technology as supporting tool for Knowledge Management and Organisational Learning
1.9. Summary and Key Findings

II. Organisational Learning and Knowledge Management within Natural Systems
2.1. Organisational Excellence – Biological Networks (Santa Fe Institute of Technology)
2.2. Natural Systems
2.2.1. Honey Bees
2.2.2. Leaf-cutter ants
2.2.3. The African Locust
2.3. Organisational Excellence and Knowledge Management within Natural Organisations: Summary and Key Findings

III. Management Literature linked with Natural Systems
3.1. McKinsey’s 7-S-Model within Natural Organisations
3.2. Mintzberg: Situational factors as determinants of organisational structure and strategy
3.3. The 5th Discipline – Ants, Bees and Locust Populations as Learning Organisations
3.4. Leaf-cutter Ants – a Peak Performance Organisation?

IV. Conclusions
4.1. What is Knowledge?
4.2. Prerequisites for Learning
4.3. When does Knowledge Management really work?
4.5. How does Organisational Learning function?
4.6. How to enforce Organisational Learning
4.7. What are the benefits of Knowledge Management and Organisational Learning?

Appendix

Appendix to 1.7.2.2. Information Technology as supporting tool for Knowledge Management and Organisational Learning

Honey bees

Leaf-cutter ants

The African locust

Glossary

1. Management Terminology

2. Systems Terminology

Bibliography

1. Management

2. Biology

3. Systems

Space for reader’s comments