Defining and Creating Organizational Knowledge Performance

The literature on organizational learning has been described as "volcanic" (Easterby-Smith, Crossan & Nicolini, 2000) because of the persistent volume of studies on the construct, and some refer to it as a core idea in organizational theory (Prange, 1999). Yet, there has been conceptual and definitional confusion (Crossan, Lane & White, 1999; Templeton, Lewis & Snyder, 2002). In this paper, I trace the evolution of the theory of organizational learning to its manifestation in theories of the learning organization and the consequent impact on knowledge performance. The ideas of a learning organization or of organizational learning capability help leaders translate organizational learning into organizational capacities. Finally, the role of informal learning as a strategy to create a learning culture and enhance knowledge performance is explored.La literatura sobre el aprendizaje organizativo ha sido descrita como «volcánica» (Easterby- Smith, Crossan y Nicolini, 2000) por los continuos estudios existentes sobre su constructo y por los que tienen como tema principal las teorías organizativas (Prange, 1999). No obstante, existen controversias en su definición y conceptualización (Crossan, Lane y White, 1999; Templeton, Lewis y Snyder, 2002). Al respecto, en este artículo se describe la evolución de la teoría del aprendizaje organizativo en las teorías de las organizaciones que aprenden y su consiguiente impacto en el conocimiento. Sin duda, las bases de la organización que aprende o de la capacidad de aprender de las organizaciones ayudan a los líderes a transformar el aprendizaje organizativo en capacidades organizativas. El artículo concluye con el rol del aprendizaje informal entendido como estrategia para crear una cultura de aprendizaje y para potenciar el conocimiento.La literatura sobre l'aprenentatge organitzatiu ha estat descrita com a «volcànica» (Easterby- Smith, Crossan i Nicolini, 2000) pels continus estudis existents sobre el seu constructe i pels que tenen com a tema principal les teories organitzatives (Prange, 1999). No obstant això, existeixen controvèrsies en la definició i conceptualització d'aquest terme (Crossan, Lane i White, 1999; Templeton, Lewis i Snyder, 2002). En aquest article es descriu l'evolució de la teoria de l'aprenentatge organitzatiu en les teories de les organitzacions que aprenen i el seu consegüent impacte en el coneixement. Sens dubte, les bases de l'organització que aprèn o de la capacitat d'aprendre de les organitzacions ajuden els líders a transformar l'aprenentatge organitzatiu en capacitats organitzatives. L'article conclou amb el rol de l'aprenentatge informal entès com a estratègia per crear una cultura d'aprenentatge i per potenciar el coneixement

Testing a Theory of Change Model for Evaluating the Impact of Action Learning Programs

This paper reports findings from an evaluation of an executive leadership development program in a large global healthcare organization. The paper offers a rethinking of evaluation from a transfer of learning model to a more open-ended, developmental approach based on a theory of change when learning is action-oriented, emergent, informal and incidental. Included in this paper are data from the evaluation illustrating learning increases in individual, group and system capacities to effectively engage with the demands placed on leaders and organizations in a complex, global context

Right whale, Eubalaena glacialis, sightings in Cape Cod waters

Sightings of right whales, Eubalaena glacialis, in Massachusetts waters have been recorded by workers at Woods Hole Oceanographic In stitution since 1955. These observations do not represent a census, because emphasis was placed on studying the whales' underwater sounds and other activities. The number of yearly sightings varied from 2 to 165. Observations were made from aircraft, boats, and occasionally from shore.Prepared for the Office of Naval Research under Contract N00014-79-C-0071; NR 083-004

Observations and radio tagging of Balaenoptera edeni near Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela

The 23 October to 13 November 1979 Venezuelan radio tagging and tracking experiments on whales (Balaenoptera edeni, Fig. 1) provided essential field tests of the new modifications to the WHOI radio whale tag (see list of tag reports), and the chance to try it on a new species. We found that we could approach and tag these whales from a slow (4 to 6 kt) vessel. Good radio tracking with automatic direction finding equipment was possible within 12 to 20 km, with longer ranges probable. In addition, the radio tags provided new information about the behavior of these whales.Prepared for the Office of Naval Research under Contract N00014-79-C-OO71; NR 083-004

Facilitating Learning Online: Modeling the Skills for Reflective Practice

This study examined the interactions of facilitators in online reflective practice groups, focusing on the types of strategies used to convey these skills. Learners were found to use the skills modeled by the group facilitator, with the content of the interactions having a greater influence than facilitator style on learners’ use

Les tensions de l’apprentissage informel sur le lieu de travail

Au fur et à mesure que les entreprises font appel aux approches de l’apprentissage informel pour mettre à jour les connaissances, un certain nombre de tensions apparaissent. Elles comprennent des préoccupations concernant la transférabilité ou la certification des connaissances, et la manière de s’assurer que ce qui est appris informellement est équivalent aux acquis de l’apprentissage formel. On encourage les organisations à se concentrer sur la création d’une culture de l’apprentissage plutôt que sur l’institutionnalisation de l’apprentissage informel.As organizations increasingly rely on informal learning approaches to update employee skills, a number of tensions arise. These include concerns about the transportability or credentialing of knowledge, and how to ensure that what is learned informally is equivalent to what is learned formally. Organizations are encouraged to focus on creating a culture of learning rather than to attempt to institutionalize informal learning.Conforme las empresas van recurriendo a los métodos del aprendizaje informal para poner al día los conocimientos, aparece cierto número de tensiones. Incluyen preocupaciones que conciernen la transferibilidad o la certificación de los conocimientos, y la manera de cerciorarse de que lo que se ha aprendido de manera informal es equivalente a lo aprendido en el aprendizaje formal. Se incita a las organizaciones a concentrarse en la creación de una cultura del aprendizaje en lugar de la institucionalización del aprendizaje informal.In dem selben Maße, wie die Firmen an die Vorgehen des unförmlichen Lernens appellieren, um die Kenntnisse zu aktualisieren, erscheinen einige Spannungen. Sie enthalten Anliegen, was die Verseztbarkeit oder die Zertifizierung der Kenntnisse betreffen, und die Art und Weise, wie man sich vergewissern kann, dass das unförmlich Gelernte den Errungenschafen des förmlichen Lernens gleichkommt. Man fördert die Organisationen dazu, sich eher auf die Bildung einer Lernkultur als auf die Institutionalisierung des unförmlichen Lernens zu konzentrieren

Reference database marine mammal literature

A comprehensive Reference Database has been designed for the marine mammal literature. The system uses INMAGIC programming (Cambridge, MA) to file, store, search, retrieve, and format the data records. The database was organized to be complementary to features developed by William E. Schevill for his library of older cetacean literature, and it uses direct association of species with some 300 indexed subjects, observation dates, locations, etc. Every component and detail of the references and annotations are available for rapid search by a wide variety of simple and complex strategies. In addition, separately indexed fields provide immediate retrieval of author, editor, year, journal, type of publication, language, genus/species (searchable by order/suborder and family as well), major subject, subject, picture, observation date, geographic location (including area name and latitude/longitude), as well as the location and library call numbers of the document referred to. Codes have been adapted for ease in identifying and searching species, subjects, journals, languages, and geographic areas. These codes may be used separately or in connection with the associated terms and texts. It is anticipated that the Reference Database will be a continuing resource for marine mammal research.Support for beginning work on the Database was by The Marine Mammal Commission and by The National Marine Fisheries Servic

Protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial of STeroid Administration Routes For Idiopathic Sudden sensorineural Hearing loss:The STARFISH trial

Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) is the rapid onset of reduced hearing due to loss of function of the inner ear or hearing nerve of unknown aetiology. Evidence supports improved hearing recovery with early steroid treatment, via oral, intravenous, intratympanic or a combination of routes. The STARFISH trial aims to identify the most clinically and cost-effective route of administration of steroids as first-line treatment for ISSNHL. STARFISH is a pragmatic, multicentre, assessor-blinded, three-arm intervention, superiority randomised controlled trial (1:1:1) with an internal pilot (ISRCTN10535105, IRAS 1004878). 525 participants with ISSNHL will be recruited from approximately 75 UK Ear, Nose and Throat units. STARFISH will recruit adults with sensorineural hearing loss averaging 30dBHL or greater across three contiguous frequencies (confirmed via pure tone audiogram), with onset over a ≤3-day period, within four weeks of randomisation. Participants will be randomised to 1) oral prednisolone 1mg/Kg/day up to 60mg/day for 7 days; 2) intratympanic dexamethasone: three intratympanic injections 3.3mg/ml or 3.8mg/ml spaced 7±2 days apart; or 3) combined oral and intratympanic steroids. The primary outcome will be absolute improvement in pure tone audiogram average at 12-weeks following randomisation (0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0kHz). Secondary outcomes at 6 and 12 weeks will include: Speech, Spatial and Qualities of hearing scale, high frequency pure tone average thresholds (4.0, 6.0 and 8.0kHz), Arthur Boothroyd speech test, Vestibular Rehabilitation Benefit Questionnaire, Tinnitus Functional Index, adverse events and optional weekly online speech and pure tone hearing tests. A health economic assessment will be performed, and presented in terms of incremental cost effectiveness ratios, and cost per quality-adjusted life-year. Primary analyses will be by intention-to-treat. Oral prednisolone will be the reference. For the primary outcome, the difference between group means and 97.5% confidence intervals at each time-point will be estimated via a repeated measures mixed-effects linear regression model

Making Decisions In the Dark : Learning Through Uncertainty in Clinical Practice During COVID-19

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore how decision making and informal and incidental learning (IIL) emerged in the clinical learning environment (CLE) during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. The authors\u27 specific interest was to better understand the IIL that took place among frontline physicians who had to navigate a CLE replete with uncertainty and complexity with the future goal of creating experiences for medical students that would simulate IIL and use uncertainty as a catalyst for learning. METHOD: Using a modified constructivist, grounded theory approach, we describe physicians\u27 IIL while working during times of heightened uncertainty. Using the critical incident technique, we conducted 45-min virtual interviews with seven emergency department (ED) and five intensive care unit (ICU) physicians, who worked during the height of the pandemic. The authors transcribed and restoried each interview before applying inductive, comparative analysis to identify patterns, assertions, and organizing themes. RESULTS: Findings showed that the burden of decision making for physicians was influenced by the physical, emotional, relational, and situational context of the CLE. The themes that emerged for decision making and IIL were interdependent. Prominent among the patterns for decision making were ways to simplify the problem by applying prior knowledge, using pattern recognition, and cross-checking with team members. Patterns for IIL emerged through trial and error, which included thoughtful experimentation, consulting alternative sources of information, accumulating knowledge, and poking at the periphery of clinical practice. CONCLUSIONS: Complexity and uncertainty are rife in clinical practice and this study made visible decision-making patterns and IIL approaches that can be built into formal curricula. Making implicit uncertainty explicit by recognizing it, naming it, and practicing navigating it may better prepare learners for the uncertainty posed by the clinical practice environment

Extracellular matrix remodelling in response to venous hypertension: proteomics of human varicose veins.

AIMS: Extracellular matrix remodelling has been implicated in a number of vascular conditions, including venous hypertension and varicose veins. However, to date, no systematic analysis of matrix remodelling in human veins has been performed. METHODS AND RESULTS: To understand the consequences of venous hypertension, normal and varicose veins were evaluated using proteomics approaches targeting the extracellular matrix. Varicose saphenous veins removed during phlebectomy and normal saphenous veins obtained during coronary artery bypass surgery were collected for proteomics analysis. Extracellular matrix proteins were enriched from venous tissues. The proteomics analysis revealed the presence of >150 extracellular matrix proteins, of which 48 had not been previously detected in venous tissue. Extracellular matrix remodelling in varicose veins was characterized by a loss of aggrecan and several small leucine-rich proteoglycans and a compensatory increase in collagen I and laminins. Gene expression analysis of the same tissues suggested that the remodelling process associated with venous hypertension predominantly occurs at the protein rather than the transcript level. The loss of aggrecan in varicose veins was paralleled by a reduced expression of aggrecanases. Chymase and tryptase β1 were among the up-regulated proteases. The effect of these serine proteases on the venous extracellular matrix was further explored by incubating normal saphenous veins with recombinant enzymes. Proteomics analysis revealed extensive extracellular matrix degradation after digestion with tryptase β1. In comparison, chymase was less potent and degraded predominantly basement membrane-associated proteins. CONCLUSION: The present proteomics study provides unprecedented insights into the expression and degradation of structural and regulatory components of the vascular extracellular matrix in varicosis