Schools should be as LO and the majority of research discovered that LO is from an economic perspective and also studied market valuation (Brennan, 2001), financial aspects of making profit and company’s performance (Chan, 2009) by business companies (Senge, 2006). There is evidence that schools move towards learning organizations to lead students will succeed (Chan; Weldy, 2009). LO is essential since it fills a big picture of how LO can be linked to schools to increase student achievement.
LO facilitate KM to enhance learning and teaching in the schools. Knowledge management suggests to schools develop more ability among its employees to be at the edge of knowledge and skill and support in aspects of learning and teaching (Kelly, Luke; Green, 2008). Garvin; Edmondson; Gino (2008) say LO is a place where employees are excellent at the building, acquiring, exchanging and transferring knowledge information. Furthermore, Seng, Kleiner, Roberts, Ross; Smith (1996) found that LO is a place where people continually extend their ability to make the results that they want and where people are continually learning how to learn together.
Senge (2006) believes LO are possible due to people’s natural need to learn and also they love it. Besides, Senge (2006) also suggests that people are able to learn because leaders in LO such as teachers are who lead every member of organizations in managing weak relationships between vision and the reality. So that, LO is a precious tool for facilitating knowledge management to improve learning and teaching skills in school (Weldy, 2009). This articles discussed about the definition of LO and how can schools working in difficult education contexts build LO. The research objectives of this study is examined the reasons of many schools do not perform well with many money invested on education industry. However, this study found 8 themes which can build LO in difficult contexts by the schools.
Firstly, personal mastery. This is an important indicator for teachers enables to build a LO in the education industry. A few educator think that personal mastery is a concept of responsibility, perseverance and self-drive. Besides, LO is personal mastery and commitment to the enterprise’s vision and mission which is a term that can create new knowledge information (Takeuchi & Nonaka, 2002).
LO are built by people who are committed to a common undertaking. Next, mental models. People have their own emotion because they come from different background, culture and religion however they also respect to each other into the environment, which was a vital variables in build LO in schools. Senge et al., (1996) characterized that mental models decide how we view the problems and issues. In the same times, one of teacher say that respect and energetic ways of going about attitudes improve teamwork between them while the other teacher say they need to separate attitudes from issues.
One of the ways to build LO in difficult education is a shared vision. This study clarified that communication among teachers enables to provide support to each other in order to achieve the purpose of learning and teaching. According to Senge et al., (1996), the key to build a shared vision is focused on people expressing their common concepts in terms of vision, purpose, values, why their work matters and how it fits in the larger world. A shared vision also creates an opportunity to make people gather together and move them to fulfil their deepest aspirations.
Moreover, team learning is also important in building LO in the education industry. MacGilchrist et al (1997) say team learning is about the ability for teachers to work together to improve their performance behaviours in the classroom. Teachers say that individuals within the school need support from subordinates, principals and parents because it would be easier to collaborate and there is power in group force. Moreover, teamwork is about the involvement and recognition of people.
Next, is system thinking. This study has revealed the teachers believed that the foundation of system thinking is meaningful connection and interaction among them. While one of the teachers says they need to review the school’s vision and mission clearly to make sure they are moving in right direction. Teachers are supported to know what is most important and which is needed to focus on in the teaching process in order to manage the complexity of collegial relationships (Senge, 2006). Furthermore, reflection.
Teachers found that thinking about their job includes thinking about their role clarity enables them to determine their mistakes. Besides, this is important to help teachers where they are processing. Most of them agreed that they have to reflect on their work and engage in self-evaluation so that they can implement corrective action were related to. Dialogue also is vital in building LO in difficult education content. Teachers say that principals should listen to suggestions that come from different quarters and see them as positive growth experiences. Besides, in order to build a common understanding among employees, principals should have responsibility and role clarity.
Employees in the education industry also must discuss the problem issues they have experienced and shouldn’t protect themselves when they are doing wrong. Chattell (1995) found that dialogue encourages reformative thinking and generative listening and being open to possibilities that encourage creativity. Lastly, the leadership. The efforts of building a LO are supported by principals who are instructional leaders, participative and visionary leaders. Teachers think that principals should haven’t cliques because it will avoid the morale of employees from being broken. Senge (2006) conclude that the capacity of the principal to create context and necessary situations for the kind of learning in order for schools become LO organisation.
In addition, individual behind the leadership in schools is the best indicator of authority but they should define their goals. I agree with this study’s findings. This is because I also think that schools should be LO, because school is a place which builds up people’s attitude, behaviour, value and personality. In addition, teachers are able to teach and share their knowledge and information with students in the schools.
However, there is difficult education in content. Thus, schools can solve this problem in terms of personal mastery, mental models, shared vision, team learning, system thinking, reflection, dialogue and leadership.
