A Quantum Metaphor of Organizations: Implications for Business Education

One of the major structural changes facing organizations today involves moving from traditional hierarchical work paradigms, beyond teams, to the “virtual” organization. In the virtual organization, “work” is no longer the place you go. It is, rather, “what you do.” These new work paradigms are simultaneously driving new paradigms for the delivery of education. Managers with more flexibility in their work lives are demanding the same flexibility as they pursue management education. This structural change presents unique challenges to those of us in both institutions of higher learning and in business organizations as we struggle to find effective ways to deliver management education through distance learning. We, too, are in the infancy of learning to live and teach in this “virtual world.” the United States, the traditional eight-hour day and 40-hour week are fast becoming anachronistic concepts. In the virtual organization, “work” is no longer the place you go. It is, rather, what you do. This structural change presents unique challenges to those of us involved in developing managers who will work in online environments. Not only do we need to teach them to live and work effectively in this “virtual world,” we also must struggle to find effective ways to deliver management education in virtual environments. Anyone working with distance learning realizes that we, indeed, are in the infancy of learning to live and to be effective educators, in this world where technology is changing the very nature of our lives. This paper looks at this changing paradigm and explores its implications on effectiveness in delivering management education. It specifically explores the changing role of communication in this new environment. It also proposes a set of “prescriptives” to help manage this change and move toward effectiveness in the delivery of management education in the virtual world of distance education. Changing Organizational Paradigms: