Lessons from the desert: Integrating managerial expertise and learning for organizational transformation

Reflection upon a field study of a corporate transformation provides insights into the application and integration of organizational learning theory and frameworks with local, corporate knowledge. In the corporate transformation studied this local knowledge came from consumer psychology, marketing campaigns and the use of media. When these ideas were applied and integrated with transformation efforts they provided scale and continuity to organizational learning efforts. The improved performance and success resulting from this corporate transformation provides lessons for all learning and improvement initiatives. Utilizing learning approaches that are modified and complemented by local knowledge improves the application of these concepts in the immediate setting and creates innovations that serve as examples for what can be applied elsewhere.