| Popis: |
Whereas much of the literature on learning in groups suggests that hierarchy stifles learning, we suggest that, in fact, hierarchy can play important—even critical—roles in facilitating experiential learning by providing a reliable and robust mechanism for setting direction despite potentially paralyzing disagreements. More specifically, we suggest that hierarchy can promote experiential learning by serving three key learning-enabling group functions—bounding, converging, and structuring—and then getting out of the way. We note, however, that intragroup hierarchies often fall short of serving these functions, and we explore a number of factors that help to explain when hierarchy will promote rather than inhibit group learning. We illustrate our arguments using the widely used case of IDEO and the shopping cart project—a case in which hierarchy is explicitly criticized but strategically utilized. |
