Research Report
Glossary: THE LEARNING ORGANIZATION
- Original authors
- Attribution requires verification
- Original source
- https://doi.org/10.1515/cks-2016-0005
- Literature note prepared by
- Aziz Shuaib Ausi
- Resource type
- Literature Note / Review Note
- Resource published on AZIZ OS
- 9 July 2026
- Last updated
- 21 September 2026
- Reading time
- 2 min
- Publication type
- Research Report
- Availability
- Open access
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Derived from an academic source (private repository).
Luhn, A. (2016). The learning organization. De Gruyter Open. https://doi.org/10.1515/cks-2016-0005
Glossary of the Learning Organization
This glossary clarifies the core terminology used to describe how modern enterprises evolve into adaptive, knowledge-sharing entities. According to Luhn (2016), these organizations move beyond traditional structures by fostering collective intelligence and systems-wide awareness.
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Circle-causal process | A feedback mechanism where components of a system influence one another in a reciprocal loop rather than a straight line. |
| Creative Tension | The psychological and structural force generated by the distance between an individual's current circumstances and their desired future state. |
| Interorganizational learning | Knowledge acquisition and sharing that transcends company boundaries, occurring within broader networks and external partnerships. |
| Learning Organization | A dynamic entity where members perpetually enhance their capabilities to achieve targeted outcomes and cultivate innovative cognitive patterns. |
| Lodestar | A guiding principle or shared vision that serves as a permanent navigational point for all members within an organization. |
| Mental Models | Entrenched assumptions, generalizations, or internal images that shape how people understand the world and take action. |
| Organizational Decay | A model describing the progressive decline of a firm, often triggered by a failure to recognize internal or external shifts. |
| Personal Mastery | The discipline of continually clarifying and deepening personal vision, focusing energy, and developing patience to view reality objectively. |
| Shared Vision | A collective sense of purpose and future direction that aligns the efforts of varied individuals toward a common goal. |
| Structural Conflict | The friction that occurs when systemic barriers or contradictory internal forces prevent an individual from achieving their stated goals. |
| Systems Archetypes | Recurring patterns and structures within organizations that result in predictable behaviors and common management dilemmas. |
| Systems Thinking | A diagnostic framework and set of tools used to identify and manage the complex, underlying interdependencies within a whole system. |
| Team Learning | The process of aligning and developing a group's capacity to create results that its members truly desire, built on dialogue. |
Source
Luhn, A. (2016). The learning organization. Culture - Society - Education. https://doi.org/10.1515/cks-2016-0005
Full APA-7 Citation: Luhn, A. (2016). The learning organization. De Gruyter Open. https://doi.org/10.1515/cks-2016-0005
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- 31 July 2026
- Resource prepared by
- Aziz Shuaib Ausi
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- Glossary: THE LEARNING ORGANIZATION
- Original authors
- Attribution requires verification
- Original source
- https://doi.org/10.1515/cks-2016-0005
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