June Fast Company Article Summary by Carol A. Thesing Big Learning, Fast Futures by Cheryl Dahle, June issue, pages 46-48

This article tells about how to get the most out of your employees in a business. It begins by telling how Tom Davin of Taco Bell used Root Learning Inc., a small consulting firm with big-name clients, like Pepsi, Boeing, Mercedes-Benz. Randall Root, founder of the firm, explains that people will act on their own ideas, whereas they only tolerate ideas handed down to them.

Tom Davin brought 90% of Taco Bell managers to Opryland Hotel in Nashville, TN to work on their strategy using the RootMap. The RoadMap is a tool that helped people of Taco Bell learn about other managers, others goals, how Taco Bell fit with fast food competition and what the whole picture of Taco Bell looked. Managers, directors, and franchise owners came away feeling energized and equipped to move in the right direction to improve their stores. Root explains when people connect to the whole, they experience a sense of belonging, which is what people need most. He goes on to explain that it isnt just about money. People need to know what they do matters. The RootMap help people find their way to profit.

Root Learning Inc., developed this way of learning when they switched from how experts consult to how people learn. The RootMaps are custom designed for each business and Davin explains that they are never right the first time. The goal is to generate conversations. It is about self-discovery and big learning, fast.

Jim Haudin, president and COO of Root Learning, Inc., suggests most learning is more about getting learners to agree with teachers conclusions than about thinking. He believes real thinking occurs only when people are engaged in what they are doing and encouraged to ask questions, make connections and defend responses.

Companies will never have a truly sustainable advantage thats based on products or price. You need to focus on the rate at which people learn, says Haudin. He concludes by saying the pace for your company will be set by the speed of the slowest many and not the brightest few.

My thoughts: I found this article very interesting and it reinforced the idea that learning is more the responsibility of the student and the teacher. The teacher needs to provide the correct environment and tools but motivation is the students responsibility. The RootMap was explained as a colorful information graphic that uses metaphor, imagery and data to capture strategic dilemmas. It would be interesting to experience that type of program to find if it would be duplicable for general education as well as business. My feelings say yes but the article did not give enough specifics to really know what the map is about. I also think a RootMap format may be helpful for our masters program. The self-directiveness of the program creates an environment for the learner to think but the RootMap may generate long excitement in learning.

When talking with friends about this article, I got a mixed result. Some said they thought the goal of learning was to have learners think and make responsible decisions. But as I listened to others, I got the feeling that some educators only wanted their students to learn what the instructor thought was important. Not only that, but I got the distinct feeling that some of these instructors felt they knew what was best for the students and their students did not.

When talking with young people, high school aged, I found they do not want to think because and I quote, its too much work. In my opinion, high school students, as well as adults, do not want to invest part of themselves in things they do not see value. Thinking is an investment of oneself. In contrast to this, work, time, and thinking was not a problem when value for the learner was obvious.

-- Anonymous, June 07, 1999

Answers

Carol Thesing,

Well written and thoughtful. Thanks for discussing it with others.

Problem solving ability is very high on the want list by employers. One of the major goals of higher education should be the development of logical thought processes.

-- Anonymous, October 02, 1999