White Paper of the Moment:-When Learning and Performance are at Odds-

November 2006
Authors: Sara J. Singer and Amy C. Edmondson

Complete White Paper
Executive Summary:
While most people agree that learning leads to improved performance, there are several ways in which learning and performance in organizations can be at odds. First, when organizations take on a new learning challenge, performance often suffers in the short term, because new behaviors or practices are not yet highly skilled. Second, by revealing and analyzing their failures and mistakes—a critical aspect of learning—individuals or work groups may appear to be performing less well than they would otherwise. This paper reviews research that describes the challenges of learning from failure in organizations, and argues that these challenges can be at least partly addressed by leadership that creates a climate of psychological safety and that promotes inquiry.

Key concepts include:
In organizations, the costs of learning may at times be more visible than the benefits. Therefore, leaders must publicize this idea broadly, or else learning may not happen.
Experimentation, by its nature, will inevitably result in failures; yet without these failures learning cannot occur.
Leadership is essential for fostering the mindset, group behaviors, and organizational investments that promote learning now and invest in performance later.