Designing the learning organization as an information-processing system: some design principles from the systems paradigm and cybernetics

The major principles for designing the learning organization as an information processing system are derived from systems paradigm, information theory, and cybernetics. The need for these principles is demonstrated by the information pathologies in the classical and contingency design of the organization and information imperatives for designing the organization for the information age. An information processing model that extends the classical and contingency principles for organizational design is developed to provide a new organization model for effective learning. The effectiveness of the learning organization can be partially attributed to the design of the organization as an information processing system. The organization learns, adapts, and responds to innovative change through its information subsystems.