Becoming a learning organization is an interim step, I believe, enroute to becoming a living organization. This is why the concept of self-organizing is such an important one when considering open space (from a systems view).
With the advent of enabling technology that allows complex systems (like organizations) begin to develop an electronic memory, and the myriad neural pathways that have grown through the increasing intra/inter-nets and other communications media, "living" organizations are quite possible. I'm not sure why "inviting" or "identifying" could be considered as evolutionary steps beyond the capacity for a system to learn. They certainly can describe desirable characteristics of a living organization. Creating new cultures for these organizations (perhaps culture developed through and around Open Space...characterized by "inviting" and "identifying") becomes at once the great challenge and the great opportunity. There is no surprise to me why so many involved in facilitating cultural change within complex organizations look to creating more flexible, adaptive organizations centered around autonomous yet connected people. regards, Doc ------------------ "A mind once stretched by a great idea or new understanding will never fully return to its original dimensions." William James Richard Charles Holloway - P.O. Box 2361, Olympia, WA 98507 USA Telephone 253.539.4014 or 206.568.7730 Thresholds <http://www.thresholds.com> Meeting Masters <http://www.thresholds.com/masters.html>
