In this innovative and thought-provoking book, the author takes an original look at some of the new ways of understanding how organizations work including complexity, chaos theory and quantum structures.
In a readable and accessible style, Walter Baet's argues that we need a new way of looking at the world and at human systems, in organizations and in society as a whole. He proposes a holistic management approach which is in direct opposition to the short-term shareholder value driven approach which dominates much management practice. The aim is to encourage the emergence of a new type of learning within organizations. To illustrate this, he discusses self-organizing systems, the complexity paradigm, the nature and use of knowledge; management learning at both the organizational and individual level and personal development. Finally, he argues in favor of considering business and economics as a network of agents that operate based on synchronicity - the quantum structure of business.
Encouraging the reader to reflect on their own experiences, and drawing on examples from a number of real-life company cases, Walter Baets delivers a readable and thought-provoking book. For students and managers interested in complexity, knowledge management, innovation and organizational learning, it will be an invaluable guide to new ways of looking at organizations, learning and innovation.

Over the past years, business schools have been experimenting with distance learning and online education. In many cases this new technology has not brought the anticipated results. Questions raised by online education can be linked to the fundamental problem of education and teaching, and more specifically to the models and philosophy of education and teaching. Virtual Corporate Universities: A Matrix of Knowledge and Learning for the New Digital Dawn offers a source for new thoughts about those processes in view of the use of new technologies. Learning is considered as a key-strategic tool for new strategies, innovation, and significantly improving organizational effectiveness. The book blends the elements of knowledge management, as well as organizational and individual learning. The book is not just a treatment of technology, but a fusion of a novel dynamic learner (student)-driven learning concept, the management and creation of dynamic knowledge, and next-generation technologies to generic business, organizational and managerial processes, and the development of human capital. Obviously, the implications of online learning go far beyond the field of business as presented in this book.

Knowledge Management and Management Learning: Extending the Horizons of Knowledge-Based Management examines a range of topical considerations in the field by utilizing dynamic and non-linear systems behavior or the complexity paradigm. From this examination have come a number of new and promising relevant extensions to knowledge management and its practice. Many of the topics have been pulled from "real world" situations in actual companies, and therefore these topical treatments reflect quantitative and qualitative research done within the knowledge management framework of actual company experience. Offered are a series of topical treatments that extend the parameters of knowledge management and examine the practical implications of these extensions.

The book begins with an extended introduction and theoretical framework. The contributing authors have written chapters that add to both the framework and the practical consequences of knowledge management. Within this context, the book illustrates why and how of knowledge management is important for companies.

Recently knowledge management and management learning has received considerable published coverage; however, most of this exposure is based on a rational, mechanistic view of knowledge management. Practice, on the other hand, has taught us that knowledge management and learning are extremely broad concepts with an expanding area of subfields. This rationalized and measured view of knowledge management has lead to a more technologically driven development of the field. In practice, however, this view of knowledge management has fallen short of its promise. This situation has created the need for a more encompassing approach to knowledge management. An approach that will encompass a wider domain of knowledge management topics; including topics such as, workplace learning, knowledge infrastructure, knowledge representation, innovation and learning, knowledge culture and learning, and knowledge technologies.

KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND MANAGEMENT LEARNING: Extending the Horizons of Knowledge-Based Management examines a range of topical considerations in the field by utilizing dynamic and non-linear systems behavior or the complexity paradigm. From this examination have come a number of new and promising relevant extensions to knowledge management and its practice. Many of the topics have been pulled from "real world" situations in actual companies, and therefore these topical treatments reflect quantitative and qualitative research done within the knowledge management framework of actual company experience. Offered are a series of topical treatments that extend the parameters of knowledge management and examine the practical implications of these extensions.

The book begins with anextended introduction and theoretical framework. Contributing authors have written chapters that add to both the framework and the practical consequences of knowledge management. These chapters suggest many lessons learned that will find considerable use in practice. Some of these chapters include an investigation of the "doa (TM)s and dona (TM)ts" virtual learning based on real-life cases, the use of design teams for group learning, the role of language and the creation of common ground between company and client, culture as a dynamic and non-linear constructed concept, innovation and knowledge management and more. The book offers an exceptional range of contributions within a developing paradigm. Within this context, the book illustrates why and how of knowledge management is important for companies.

Over the past years, business schools have been experimenting with distance learning and online education. In many cases this new technology has not brought the anticipated results. Questions raised by online education can be linked to the fundamental problem of education and teaching, and more specifically to the models and philosophy of education and teaching.

Virtual Corporate Universities: A Matrix of Knowledge and Learning for the New Digital Dawn offers a source for new thoughts about those processes in view of the use of new technologies. Learning is considered as a key-strategic tool for new strategies, innovation, and significantly improving organizational effectiveness. The book blends the elements of knowledge management, as well as organizational and individual learning. The book is not just a treatment of technology, but a fusion of a novel dynamic learner (student)-driven learning concept, the management and creation of dynamic knowledge, and next-generation technologies to generic business, organizational and managerial processes, and the development of human capital. Obviously, the implications of online learning go far beyond the field of business as presented in this book.

While theories on learning organizations' and knowledge-based companies' have recently emerged, little attention has yet been given either to the underlying structures of these developments, or to the link between these underlying structures and the resources available to manage them. Organizational Learning and Knowledge Technologies in a Dynamic Environment attempts to fill this gap. It thus presents practical and concrete ways for companies to be adaptable and flexible whilst operating effectively and efficiently. Underlying concepts and insights into flexible management and chaotic market behavior are translated into a pragmatic approach to knowledge management within companies, using the latest technology. Corporate knowledge is increasingly proving to be not only an important resource, but possibly unique in its sustainability. Managing knowledge as a resource, as well as managing learning as the process which creates that resource, can only be done using appropriate information technologies. The foundational concepts discussed emerge from such fields as neurobiology, cognitive sciences, physics, and organizational theory. These are applied to management and substantiated with examples. New developments in knowledge management, such as connectionist approaches, are outlined and illustrated with real cases. The author further describes an approach for developing knowledge networks in companies. The annex offers readers with an advanced interest in the matter an epistemological discussion on scientific methods for management research and touches in a broader sense on the measurability of management processes.

This fascinating book argues for a new way of looking at the world and at human systems, companies or (Western) society as a whole. Walter R. J. Baets argues that we should let go of our drive to control, manage and organize, in order to be able to create an ideal environment for continuous learning, both for ourselves and for our collaborators. Arguing in favour of a holistic management approach, and very much in opposition to the short-term shareholder value driven approaches that are popular today, Baets' book develops a logic founded in real life observations, examples and/or cases that every reader will recognize in their daily practice. It guides the reader to the recognition of the underlying structure of those example phenomena, understanding an alternative paradigm, and allowing the reader finally to be able to work with the dynamics of business on a daily basis. A must-read for students of complexity, strategy and organizational behaviour, this well-researched, well-argued book skilfully guides the reader through this interesting subject.