ABSTRACT

Just as the learning spiral, which we described in Chapter 7, can be used by individual learners, it is even more powerful when used as a group process. An example from a merchant bank in the City of

London will serve to illustrate the learning spiral working with a group. The bank had been formed from the merger of two quite dissimilar

banks in the United States, each bringing to the merger different strengths, and making the new bank much stronger in the markets in which it did business. Both banks also brought their own weaknesses and organizational failings with them. Much work had been done to streamline processes and controls but there was still a great deal of ill-discipline and a lack of appropriate controls. The bank was used to making big profits and in the past there had not been a great deal of concern about internal costs and inefficiencies in the system.