Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify exemplar and underperforming high schools and determine the extent to which the staff members model the behaviors identified in Senge's Five Key Disciplines of a learning organization: personal mastery, mental modeling, shared vision, team learning, and systems thinking. This study compared the exemplar high schools and underperforming high schools to determine if there is a significant difference in the extent to which staff members model Senge's Five Key Disciplines of a learning organization. Methodology: This study combined qualitative and quantitative research in a descriptive, ex post facto study. The subjects of the study were five exemplar high schools and their principals and five underperforming high schools and their principals in Southern California. The staff members responded to the Learning Organization Survey Questions and the principals were interviewed using the Learning Organization Interview Schedule Questions. Findings: The key findings of the study were that there is a significant difference between exemplar high schools and underperforming high schools in the extent to which the staff members experience all of Senge's Five Key Disciplines of a learning organization: personal mastery, mental models, shared vision, team learning, and systems thinking; and there are some key reasons for the experience of the staff members at the exemplar and underperforming high schools. Conclusions: The results of the surveys and interviews indicated that there is a significant difference in the extent to which staff members in exemplar and underperforming high schools experience Senge's Five Key Disciplines of a learning organization. In addition, there were some key reasons for the experience of the staff members at the exemplar and underperforming high schools. Recommendations: The following recommendations are based on the information gained from this study: (1) high school principals and staff members, particularly those in underperforming high schools, should understand the potential benefits that exist for a campus when staff members experience Senge's Five Key Disciplines of a learning organization; (2) high school principals, particularly those in underperforming high schools, should understand how to cultivate organizational learning and growth through the encouragement of Senge's Five Key Disciplines; and (3) further research is needed about how schools function as learning organizations.