PART B

How can an understanding of Senges five disciplines help managers of organisations in the Gulf
states GCC countries deal with the challenges resulting from the 2008 global crisis !our
answer should be illustrated with relevant e"amples#


Word Limit 2000 words exclude references: $%0& of mar's(

v )o chose one or two involved challenges to tal' about the issue* and to lin'ed these
challenges to Senges +ive ,isciplines#
v )o tell about these challenges
v )o tell about Senges
v -ppl. the five disciplines to the challenges
v Clear/comprehensible conclusion from above# 0 and ma'e sure .ou -1S234 the 5uestion
Senges +ive ,isciplines6

v S.stems )hin'ing
v 7ersonal 8aster.
v 8ental 8odels
v )eam 9earning
v Shared :ision
Senges Five Disciplines in Gulf States Crisis

Gulf States include ;ahrain< =atar< Saudi -rabia< >uwait< ?man< and the @nited -rab
3mirates @-3< are famous for worlds largest collection of oil reserves and lu"urious life st.les
of their natives# ,uring the financial crisis 2008< the. have faced a totall. different realit.< as
the. have effected to a large e"tent< but not their financial mar'ets did not crash because of the
cushion of oil wealth also due to prudent financial econometrics< another main cause is that oil
e"porters in the region can depict upon their huge energ. reserves# However< as the worldwide
recession has intensified< these countries have faced fewer options for e"ports< direct foreign
investment< travel and tourism< and foreign remittances#
Gulf Countries represent a different range of economic s.stems and development
levels< which largel. depend upon various foreign inflows# 8an. of these countries are better
integrated with world financial mar'ets as their investment is largel. in western capital mar'ets#
Global Financial Crisis & Gulf States
-s global capital providers< these states remain much less effected to a diminishing
global financial resources hub than net finance debtors< as the. can simpl. hold outflows for
little while to recapitaliAe their financial structures# -s the large portion of wealth is controlled
b. the GCC monarchies< large sums of cash flow which preliminar. goes into government
treasur.# )his would help the GCC states to maintain a budget surplus#
4egional anal.sis show that 8iddle 3ast growth would sluggish in 200B to 2#C percent
from D#E percent in 2008< before recuperating in 20F0 to about %#C percent< as 22 countries of the
region would be affected b. the global crisis in different wa.s# +or instance< 8iddle 3asts oil*
e"porters in gulf countries are anticipating the impact in sharp fall in oil prices and the stringent
credit conditions# 2here as in other parts of the world the oil importers also face slowdown in
their trading partners include 3urope< @S< and Gulf Cooperation Council $GCC( countries< which
has resulted in decline in oil revenues to gulf countries# )ourism activities and foreign
remittances are also affected to a large e"tent< though indirectl. but to a significant volume#
Unique callenges to Gulf !cono"ies
Gulf states especiall. @-3 faces a decelerate loan growth and real estate developments
in global financial crisis< in spite of their budget surpluses and being a net capital e"porters<
these GCC states do sustain e"ternal debt which is originall. used to finance business proGects
and state functions# +or instance< the ,ubai has incurred a massive debt in the process of
e"clusive real estate sector growth#
3conomies slowdown generates some unavoidable and compelling challenges to these
other wise lucrative empires< some of these are as follows6
,ue to heav. dependence on foreign labor to 'eep construction proGects and oil
industries running will face new challenges after la.offs in these sectors would
results in potential securit. threats#
Hn recession times< the high level of borrowing for sustaining domestic economic
activities< turned into a disadvantage when it comes to see' short*term capital
resources in order to adGust to the international crisis re5uirements#
- decline in demand for goods and services globall.< generates decline in
manufacturing< this factor also creates a slowdown in these countries#
- relativel. .oung ban'ing sector in these states could have sha'en at contraction
of global li5uidit. and vanishing assets# -s the GCC states have avoided incurring
heav. amounts of debt this might not be the massive challenge#
?il mar'ets fluctuations is undeniabl. an apprehension for gulf states as oil prices
have declined to practicall. ID0 a barrel after attaining limits of nearl. IFJ0 per
barrel in start of 2008#
Hn order to anal.Ae the effect of 7eter Senges five disciplines< H have selected the
following two challenges to these GCC countries#
!"plo#ees $a#off an% Securit# Treats
-n over*reliance on e"patriate wor'ers in oil and construction industries has alwa.s been a core
issue in Gulf States# 8illions of immigrants from Hndia< 7a'istan< ;angladesh and ;urma consist
of the labor needed to prop up giant oil rigs and to build huge buildings in Gulf#
+oreign wor'ers are being laid off as ,ubai tries to cope with its financial troubles< resulted in
mass deportations from the states to their native regions# )his growing unemplo.ment rates
could be a lucrative recruiting opportunities for militant groups in the region< and intensif. social
tensions for @-3 and other Gulf states# 2hen these unemplo.ed migrants return to their home
countries< in order to fulfill monetar. obligations< the. might Goin insurgent groups in south
-sian countries#
9arge numbers of wor'ers< who did not return< become illegal aliens in the region# )he. could
wind up ban'rupt or worse< increases the chances of becoming a victim of terrorist activities# -s
militants groups consider the @-3 a 2esterniAed entit. and a cultural threat to the -rab world<
the. might target this region for future terrorism and attempts could be made to attac' the region<
which would drive foreign investors awa. from the region which is alread. in the grip of
financial challenges#
Peter Senges five Disciplines&
7eter Senge in FBB0 put forward the idea that change is teaming and learning is change in his famous
boo' )he +ifth ,isciplineK< it was proposed that organiAations can learn to change in order to accommodate
change in environment# He also put forward the concept of learning organiAations< a place where people
fre5uentl. enlarge their capabilit. to generate the outcome the. actuall. wanted< where creative thin'ing
patterns are nurtured< collective contributions are welcomed< and where emplo.ees are involved in group
learning# 8anagers use these five disciplines to overcome in capabilities of the organiAation< their component
technologies are6
F# S#ste"s Tin'ing
Ht is the integrative fifth discipline which fuses the other four< is based on s.stem d.namics and is
highl. conceptual# Helps to understand practical business problemsL it divides the s.stem in
archet.pes< and includes une5uivocal comple" issues s.stem modeling#
() Personal *aster#
Ht is the discipline of persistentl. illuminating and deepening of personal vision< energies<
also involves budding endurance to enable a person to see realit. in obGective mode#
%# *ental *o%els
Ht is the abilit. of generating deepl. embedded assumptions, generaliAations< or images that
persuade the better understanding of the events around us
J# Tea" $earning
Ht is the activit. where team members learn b. 'eeping their assumptions suspended, start
learning with dialogues< and enter into a comple" process of thin'ing together#
D# Buil%ing Sare% +ision
Ht is a voluntar. act of learning from environment< which involves the s'ills of sighting the shared future
pictures and showing indisputable commitment and conscription#
,"portance of Five %isciplines in Businesses
)hese five disciplines should be adopted to e"pand the learning capacit. of the organiAation< learning
organiAations which follow these principles< generate capacit. to inculcate collective learning in their
emplo.ees#
7ersonal master. prepares the individual for being a part of the large group< and mental
modes help one to be receptive to othersM learning e"periences and wa.s of thought# Shared
vision provides a guiding purpose and shared values# )eam learning enables ever.one to learn
together and creates a receptive process of listening. S.stems thin'ing is a tool for
understanding business c.cles for wor'ing toward better relationships between s.stems and
people# )he importance of s.stems thin'ing is undermined b. some critics as it is no more
important than other four# Ht is used for the title of the boo' where as boo' claims that it is the
Gunction of all other disciplines#
Application of Five Disciplines in Callenges of Gulf States
-s the businesses in these states is becoming more comple"< d.namic< and globall. competitive
after the recession# 8anagers need cutting edge technologies and e"pertise to generate
understanding< preparation< and 'nowledge based agreements than organiAations can e"cel<
)he first three disciplines of 7eter Senge have particularl. applied for the individual< and the last
two are suited for group applications# )he GCC states have man. options available to manage
the above mentioned demographic challenges< as the problems intensified the e"periments new
approaches# Senges five ,isciplines can be utiliAed in following wa.s#
Use of Personal *aster#
)he use of SaudiiAation and =atariAation policies compel organiAations to provide white*
collar Gobs for native wor'ers# )his practice would enable native citiAens to ac5uire the s'ills
needed to run their own businesses in future< as a top management# )his concept relates to the
use of personal master. in the companies culture# @sing the subconscious training is vital in
personal master.# )his practice focuses that when natives commit to development of personal
s'ills< b. using mentors< meditation or simpl. 5uieting the conscious mind# 8anagers help these
people in creating the results in life that the. trul. see'# Hn a true learning organiAation<
continuous personal development is nurtured at all levels#
- criticism to these policies has a view point that paucit. of technical training in the local
educational s.stem in these states and de*motivation among native students has disadvantaged
these initiatives in organiAations# -nother step ta'en to restrict blue collar foreign wor'ers is
rigid immigration policies in GCC states< as a result of this man. e"patriates escape the gulf<
abandoned their homes and belongings once their Gobs are finished#
Use of *ental "o%es
8anagers in these companies can create discipline of wor'ing with mental models< in order to
retrieve effective wor' force and to GudGe e"patriate wor'er before la.ing them off# )his practice
starts with learning to unearth their internal thin'ing about the world to the surface and hold
them thoroughl. to inspection# Ht also emphasiAes managers to carr. on useful and truthful
conversations that balance their thought patterns< and enhance in5uir. and advocac.# 2hen
wor'ers e"pose their own thin'ing effectivel. and ma'e that thin'ing open to the influence of
managers< the. can be used in effective manners in future< and can replace if an. threat arises in
future#
-s the mar'et instabilities revealed< the GCC states ma. be enforced to incise their
programs li'e ,ubais propert. development proGects and Saudi -rabias oil refineries
construction# ;ut in the long run< these programs can be rescheduled< and wor'force can be
provided with other options< as their massive oil reserves serve in the future# Hn all financial
discipline< the e"patriates participation should be increased so that the. become an integral part
of decision ma'ing processes# 7ersonal files also to be maintained and revised from time to time
in order to trac' the changes in behaviors< their associations with in or out side the compan.
should also be monitored to reduced the securit. threats as a result of la.ing off these emplo.ees#
Use of Tea" %isciplines an% Sare% +ision
)hese disciplines encourage dialogues among individuals in order to understand the patterns of
communication in teams that challenge group learning# Hn operations of teams often the
defensiveness patterns deepl. engrained which highl. deteriorates the teams efficienc.# Hf left
untouched the. undermine learning but if the. surfaced creativel.< the. accelerate learning
activities#
Hn this case of Gulf States< creation of micro* worlds i#e the computeriAed networ'ing of
businesses and business processes would help in lin'ing organiAations in a single loop< where
shared decisions can be facilitated# -s it also a criticism to this approach that in*considerate and
some time personal disagreements ma. not be convenient to manage through simple
ingenuousness# 7rinciples are needed natural affections such as love and nurturing< as the. do not
simpl. share out to ever.one in the business climate# -n e"ample of shared vision in GCC
countries is that the global crisis could bring members closer together as five of these includes
Saudi -rabia< strive to initiate a single currenc. b. the .ear 20F0 which otherwise have been
dela.ed for .ears# )his would help them to achieve a stable financial position as 3uropean
countries now have after launching of 3uro#
Use of S#ste"s Tin'ing
-s s.stems thin'ing fosters interrelationships among processes< its essence lies in shift of mind-
it is based on continuous processes of change as sudden< abrupt and short term changes never
produces an enduring change# Hn order to reinforce this principle< managers base their decisions
on feedbac's which balance the actions in organiAations# S.stems should be c.clic in nature< as
growth limitations should be set< as in the e"ample of ,ubai< enormous uncontrollable growth of
mega construction proGects< resulted in multifold foreign wor'ers< and after the crises massive
deportations have caused bitter relationships between the state and the immigrants native
countries#
+or new operations these states should use balancing process with dela.< and shifting the burden
to the intervenor< as the balance of s.stems is the most effective tool for sustainable growth#

S.stems -rchet.pes are basic and understandable c.cles that s.stems go through#
Te arcet#pes fro" The Fifth Discipline are .
9imits to Growth
Shifting the ;urden to the Hntervenor
3roding Goals
3scalation
Success to the Successful
)raged. of the Commons
+i"es that +ail
Growth and @nderinvestment
S.stems thin'ing uses archet.pes for modeling the c.cles that s.stems go through#
Conse5uences at a distance * 'eep us from easil. seeing cause and effect#
Comple"it. and understanding * we need methods to increase understanding#
9everage * is to find the point in the c.cle where effort is most effective or to change the
structure of the s.stem# Translating a complex organizational issue into a model that makes
sense is still a high-leel craft, and the modeling programs contain no !uilt-in criteria for
helping "ou see whether a model is credi!le or appropriate

/o0 "uc of life is "a%e of visible c#cles1
-nother thought is that obGect*oriented design seems to focus much more on the intended use
and functionalit. of s.stems rather than emphasiAing visuall. defined c.cles within a s.stem#
)he c.cles are almost ta'en for granted in some modeling< since programming generall.
involves repeated processes# H donMt have enough business e"perience to sa. whether a given case
stud. is e"emplar. and useful for general application or whether it is an e"ample of a stor.*
tellerMs s'ill and the human interest of stories#
Te %isciplines "a# not be 0at 0e 0ere loo'ing for
Hn these terms< the disciplines of learning ma. seem less foreignL .et there is a great distance
between the idea of personal master. and behaviors such as loo'ing for stuff on the networ'#
How can purposeful< person*as*resource principles be furthered )his is when the vision and a
real understanding of the present show that we must change our minds# )he first step for the
individual in being part of a learning organiAation is wanting to be a part< and ma.be thatMs the
first thing that has to be settled# ,o .ou want to go Hf .ou want to go< then .ou can#
Financial Crisis an% te GCC
8uch of this debt has been caused b. massive infrastructure and development proGects such as
=atars li5uefied natural gas facilities< ,ubais fanciful real estate e"plosion and ;ahrains
attempts to convert itself into a financial mecca# Hndeed< the GCC states have used the past
several decades of oil wealth to engineer massive development proGects and have become< in the
process< 5uite reliant on foreign direct investment $+,H( and the technolog. and e"pertise that
accompan. it# )hough =atar and >uwait are net e"porters of +,H< the other four states are
importers of +,H< from ;ahrains modest 0#DF percent of G,7 to ?mans more substantial J#CE
percent of G,7#
)hese pools of capital allow the GCC states to e"ercise great fle"ibilit.< especiall. during credit
crunches# Gulf oil is controlled b. the monarchies that rule each state< and these strong
governments not onl. can draw on their large reserves but also can run their .earl. budgets with
substantial built*in surpluses# )his gives the governments a great deal of room to intervene in the
local mar'ets to compensate for the effects of the financial crisis#
Trouble Spots
)here are a couple of notable e"ceptions to this relativel. ros. picture# Saudi -rabia has
postponed bids on two maGor refiner. proGects until sometime in late 200B# Hnstead the. are a part
of Saudi -rabias effort to move up the energ. suppl. chain N from crude production to refined
products N and while these facilities would be nice to have< their dela. will not cause an.
sleepless nights for Saudi -rabia#
-mong the GCC states there are a few with their own uni5ue challenges# Hn the @-3< for
e"ample< there has been a rapid increase in corporate borrowing over the past two .ears# 8ost of
that borrowing has been to fund massive development proGects in the emirate of ,ubai# )hese
fantastical proGects have included the construction of islands in the shape of palm trees and the
continents of the world#
Hts F0*.ear growth spurt has come to an end< however< as the heavil. overheated real estate sector
readGusts to something closer to realit. and as ban' stabilit. is in 5uestion< ,ubai companies
have suffered huge losses in the ,ubai +inancial 8ar'et< which has ta'en the biggest hit of the
GCC*state stoc' mar'ets so far this .ear< with losses of up to CC percent#
)he massive credit e"pansion in =atar and the @-3 has put the ban'ing sectors of both countries
in a delicate position# 9i5uidit. crises will< as a rule< hit first in the place where commercial
ban'ing and lending has e"ploded the 5uic'est#
Geopolitical ,"plications
)he strongest pla.er in the region< b. far< is Saudi -rabia< and 4i.adh uses its massive oil wealth
to e"ert political pressure throughout the region and the world# )he 'ingdoms primar. obGective
in the region is the containment of Hran and Shiite influence as Hran tries to assert dominance over
Hra5# )he financial crisis has been a huge boon in this endeavor# -s a maGor oil e"porter that has
failed to achieve the 'inds of financial solvenc. that the GCC states have secured< Hran is staring
down the barrel of a gun as oil prices sin'# 2ithout a buffer of cash< Hran is ver. poorl.
positioned to handle a fall in oil prices#
)hough the fall in oil prices threatens Saudi -rabia as well< the Saudi budget is set for an oil
price of IJD per barrel< and oil prices have not dropped to levels that would threaten Saudi
stabilit.# Saudi -rabia maintains the abilit. to manipulate oil prices for its own foreign polic.
obGectives and could use them against Hran# $Saudi -rabia is poised to assume an even more
powerful position when prices rise again if an ambitious IF2B billion proGect to raise its oil
production capacit. to F2#D million bpd comes through as planned in 200B#(
Hf Saudi -rabia chooses to pursue macro*level adGustments to oil prices in order to target Hran< it
will certainl. do so cautiousl.# )hough the 'ingdom has a solid cushion of petrodollars< it still
relies on oil for ED percent of government income# )hat income is necessar. to meet a variet. of
domestic needs and to counter Hranian moves in the region b. bribing political parties and
militant groups in places li'e Hra5 and 9ebanon#
-fter Saudi -rabia< >uwait is perhaps the GCC state best positioned to weather the financial
storm# 2ith a S2+ of I2CJ billion< the countr. is ver. capital*rich and the government has a
huge budget surplus# )here has been turmoil in >uwaits e5uit. mar'ets and ban'ing sector<
which has prompted the 'ingdom to repatriate some I%#CC billion worth of S2+ investments< but
the governments resources are substantial enough to handil. offset these problems# >uwait
stands to gain from the decline of Hranian influence in the region< in terms of limiting both the
influence of its own Shiite minorities and Hrans entrenchment in neighboring Hra5# >uwaits
foreign polic. goals are thus in line with Saudi -rabias< and >uwait will follow the Saudi lead#
-bu ,habi< the largest emirate of the @-3< is the wealthiest and most tightl. run ship in the
countr.# )he @-3s problems lie in ,ubai and its e"cessive real estate boom of the past decade#
,ubais financial indiscretions have put it in a position where it will need to be underwritten $to a
certain e"tent( b. -bu ,habi# )his presents a strategic opportunit. for -bu ,habi to rein in the
political power and e"cesses of the al*8a'toum famil.< which rules ,ubai and holds the @-3
prime ministerial post# ,ubai has so far remained staunchl. uninterested in -bu ,habis offers of
aid< declaring that there are no negotiations between the emirates#
)hough =atar has found itself mildl. vulnerable to the international financial crisis because of its
large debt burden< it is still in a reasonabl. safe financial position# =atars regional and global
goals are 5uite ambitious< as it see's to increase its holdings overseas and serve as a diplomatic
hub for the 8iddle 3ast# =atar has alread. made moves toward ac5uiring maGor sta'es in
companies overseas N including Citiban' N and these 'inds of activities will li'el. continue#
+or =atar< the danger ma. be in overe"tending itself in a time of depressed mar'ets and
relativel. little competition#
+or ;ahrain and ?man< the smallest of the GCC states< their abilit. to ta'e advantage of the
financial crisis is relativel. limited# ;ahrain is constrained b. domestic political factors as it
see's to balance the needs of active opposition elements with its economic outloo'# )his will
limit ;ahrains abilit. to use the economic crisis as a stepping*stone toward a larger geopolitical
role in the region# ?man< for its part< maintains a ver. low profile in the region and is ver.
unli'el. to ma'e an. moves at this time#
+or all of the GCC states< the global slowdown offers investment opportunities the world over#
?n the political stage< the 2estern states are cr.ing out for capital inGections as their economies
slow down# Hn fact< on a tour of the region< ,eput. @#S# )reasur. Secretar. 4obert >immitt
called on the 7ersian Gulf -rab states to continue investing in the @nited States to help restore
financial stabilit.# )his represents an e"cellent opportunit. for GCC states to charge to the rescue
N with heft. e"pectations for future cooperation< of course#
)he @nited >ingdom has also as'ed the GCC states to help the Hnternational 8onetar. +und
$H8+( assist countries in desperate need of a bailout# Herein lies an opportunit. for the GCC
states to engage in long*term financial positioning# ;. giving mone. to the H8+< the GCC states
could enhance their sa. in the affairs of the lending institution and< b. e"tension< in the
geopolitical arena#
+or the moment< however< the GCC states have not responded enthusiasticall. to these pleas
$although Saudi 7rince 2alid bin )alal did announce that he would boost his sta'e in Citiban'
Gust da.s before a @#S#*announced government bailout of the compan.(# Countries li'e Saudi
-rabia and >uwait $which have other options and a variet. of needs to balance( see onl. limited
direct political benefit from bailing out the 2est instead of investing that mone. at home# )his is
an outloo' that could change once the new @#S# administration is up and running and able to
ma'e political deals and securit. guarantees#
-s these openings demonstrate< the GCC states are among few in the world that can view the
current crisis and see potential opportunities# 2hile there will certainl. be bumps in the road as
these relativel. .oung economies settle and shift in the face of a turbulent world econom.<
responsible management of vast oil wealth has put the GCC states in a position to weather the
financial crisis< and weather it wel
or
Te Fift Discipline brings word of #learning organizations,# organizations where people
continuall" expand their capacit" to create the results the" trul" desire, where new and
expansie patterns of thinking are nurtured, where collectie aspiration is set free, and where
people are continuall" learning how to learn together. +ive disciplines are described as the
means of building learning organiAations#
)he author writes of the disciplines that these might $ust as well !e called the leadership
disciplines as the learning disciplines. Those who excel in these areas will !e the natural leaders
of learning organizations. S.stems thin'ing has the distinction of being the Kfifth disciplineK
since it serves to ma'e the results of the other disciplines wor' together for business benefit#
The Five Disciplines
S#ste"s Tin'ing
%"stems thinking is a conceptual framework, a !od" of knowledge and tools that has !een
deeloped oer the past fift" "ears, to make the full patterns clearer, and to help us see how to
change them effectiel".
Personal *aster#
*ental *o%els
#&ental models# are deepl" ingrained assumptions
Sare% +ision
The practice of shared ision ?penness
7ictures of the future
Tea" $earning
'ortune# F%0$8(6 FJE*FDE# FBBJ ?ct FE# K8r# 9earning ?rganiAationK< ;rian ,umaine#
Hn (rganizational )"namics# -utumn FBB%# Communities of Committment6 )he Heart of
9earning ?rganiAationsK< +red >ofman and 7eter 8# Senge sa. the following#
*oseph +am!ell spoke of the ancient ,ndo--uropean m"th of the .oddess who #teaches
compassion for all liing !eings. There also "ou come to appreciate the real sanctit" of
the earth itself, !ecause it is the !od" of the .oddess.# /ecent adances in archeological
research are suggesting that the m"th of the .oddess ma" hae predominated throughout
central -urope in the late 0aleolithic and earl" 1eolithic cultures. These cultures ma"
hae !een neither warlike nor male dominated, as long assumed.
?n the other hand< H found a cop. of -uthur >oestlerMs boo' KGhost in the 8achineK<
written in FBCE< in the 1ew -ge section of a local boo'store# )he use of the name Knew
ageK does not necessaril. mean that a viewpoint reall. is part of the new age#
1evertheless< use of the idea of a goddess for decenc. and possibl. attentiveness do have
something in common with new age imager.#
9ife in a bod.#
Hntegrit. and the inabilit. to manage the bod.#
Kunvoiced longing toward a truer worldK as 2# 3# ;# ,u ;ois wrote about the blues in
The %ouls of 2lack 'olk#
Self*Control as a biblical version of personal master.#
-necdotes and case studies
7leasant conversation
K;right HdeasK
)he difference between dela.ed on*line communication and dialogue#
Hntegrit. * being true to our understanding or our promise#
-uthenticit. * being real and genuine#
Collective intelligence * the benefit of combining the understanding of individuals#
-spiration * hopes< desires for the future< vision< direction#
ConceptualiAation * seeing the future through imagination and s.stem thin'ing#
The concert pianist thinks onl" of the aesthetics of the performance, not the mechanics.
# Te Fift Discipline in not directed to meeting those e"pectations and with good reason#
9earning in an environment where there is little receptivit. to what is learned is not full. useful
to a compan.# -nd Kivor. towerK learning that separates people does not further the development
of a learning organiAation#
2b3ect.oriente% %esign an% te "ental 0or' require% for s#ste" %esign
?bGect*oriented design and obGect*oriented computer programming languages have increased in
emphasis in the last few .ears# 2hile Steve 8cConnellMs Code Complete isnMt directl. concerned
with obGect*oriented programming< it is ver. informative about programming research and
methods< and part of the authorMs purpose in writing the boo' was to reduce the significant gap
between research and practice# Hf procedural programming practice differs greatl.< obGect*
oriented programming shares the same language elements plus new language elements and more
design options# )he emphasis of obGect*oriented programmers and designers is often ver.
different with programmers seeming to thin' that the technical elements of the language result in
useful obGects< while designers who are wor'ing at a higher level than a programming language<
a level that is possibl. lac'ing from some proGects< marvel at the uncertainties< mental effort and
difference between design choices#
2b3ect.oriente% %esign as un%erstan%able "eans
?ne thought that ma. benefit the learning organiAation is that obGect*oriented s.stem modeling<
though based on ver. definite Kfinding methodsK< continues to be conceptuall. difficult# )he
finding methods such as +/+ cards and 3se +ase modeling give an investigator real starting
points or starting 5uestions# S.stems archet.pes< on the other hand< seem to be based on business
anal.sis e"pertise and e"perience of same*t.pe c.cles# )hereMs less information presented about
how to find the archet.pes in a s.stem than obGect s.stem designers have needed< wanted and
received in their wor'# Hf .ou donMt see the archet.pes< thereMs not much guidance for how to find
them# -nd evidence of the full effectiveness of modeling with the archet.pes is not presented<
either# )he conclusion might be that further development of s.stems thin'ing models and
modeling is needed and possible# 8a.be H should mention here that HMve purchased )he +ifth
,iscipline +ieldboo'< and it ma. answer some of m. 5uestions#
S#ste"s tin'ers vie0 of te arcet#pes
Hn Te Fift Discipline Fiel%boo'& Strategies an% Tools for Buil%ing a $earning
2rgani4ations.stems thin'ing professionals evaluate the use of s.stems archet.pes and write
the following# )he comments from the boo' are not intended as being disrespectful of modeling
methods#
4n archet"pe is nothing more than a mental model made isi!le. 567
. 586
0eter %enge has referred to them, correctl" in m" opinion, as #training wheels.# 588
0redicting the !ehaior of een the simplest archet"pe would mean soling a high-order
nonlinear differential e9uation in "our head. :uman !eings do not hae the cognitie
capacit" to do so. 58;
Explanatory Notes
5 Start 5 ,ntro%uction 5 Five Disciplines 5 A%%itional Topics 5 S#ste" Drea" 5 *#
Contribution 5 Explanatory Notes 5 Resource $ist 5
K# )he author writes ,t is ital that the fie disciplines deelop as an ensem!le. This is
challenging !ecause it is much harder to integrate new tools than simpl" appl" them separatel".
2ut the pa"offs are immense.
This is wh" s"stems thinking is the fifth discipline. ,t is the discipline that integrates the
disciplines, fusing them into a coherent !od" of theor" and practice. ,t keeps them from !eing
separate gimmicks or the latest organization change fads. Without a s"stemic orientation, there
is no motiation to look at how the disciplines interrelate. 2" enhancing each of the other
disciplines, it continuall" reminds us that the whole can exceed the sum of its parts.
)he author also writes , call s"stems thinking the fifth discipline !ecause it is the conceptual
cornerstone that underlies all of the fie learning disciplines of this !ook. Go to conte"t
Reference
,avid Garvin< 2uilding a Learning (rganization< Business Cre%it< BC$F(6 FB*28# FBBJ Oanuar.#