What if organizations adopted PLNs as part of its innovation? I think that would be a good idea. Organizations need to learn faster than ever before, but it will come with a heavy price if not done with both eyes open.
So what would the Organizational Learning Network (OLN) look like?
In many ways the OLN would look like our PLNs on a macro level meaning that whole departments and business units would take the role of the individual learner as in a PLN. This is not to say that individuals or the personal learning network would go away, actually the opposite, it would and should encourage the individual to build and strengthen their PLNs as continuous learners within the organization.
However, these departments and business units would begin to cultivate and strengthen their unique connections, identify their brokers - Scouts and Connectors, and develop an information sharing environment that supports seeking and sharing of information and advice.
What does that look like?
See attached image.
Within each of these groups would reside Connectors that could identify valuable information and resources then direct them to work groups that in turn would make best use of it and add value to the organization.
In theory this approach is a great idea. Not only that, it is a mandatory approach if organizations want to survive the rapid shift in technology and how it can disrupt the way we do things. Yet, there looms a dark cloud of mistrust, insecurity, politics, and poor governance that could easily derail the process further slowing organizational innovation. If the organization can't overcome these barriers and improve the social connections of its formal networks then competitive advantage may suffer in the long run.
