The Fifth Discipline

Senge and other systems scientists blame The Prevailing System of Management for various problems, including the failure of many companies and global crises such as climate change and the drug trade. How much of a role does this system play in these issues? To what other major world problems does this system contribute?

Senge argues that the best way to solve creative tension is to move one’s current reality closer to their vision? What are some areas and situations in which people and/or companies might need to do the opposite?

Though Senge focuses on the application of the five disciplines in management and leadership, he also references situations in other areas of life as examples. What are some examples of the use of the disciplines in your life? Have you ever done similar practices in your work and/or personal life? Explain.

Senge uses a Shell study by Arie de Geus to support the idea that the most successful companies are ones that prioritize people and view their companies as communities rather than profit machines. What are some facts that support this argument? What are some facts that refute this argument? Compare and contrast.

Compare and contrast detail complexity and dynamic complexity. What problems fit in each of these areas? Explain.

Senge cites numerous business people and leaders in successful groups to provide ethos for his book. How effective are these inclusions in supporting Senge’s arguments for his theories on the learning organization and the five disciplines?

How has Senge’s theories in his book influenced the world of management and business since its release? Where can you see the practice of the five disciplines in leadership and management teams in the present day?

What role do Eastern philosophies have in Senge’s philosophy on management and leadership?