Cultural Learning - We partner with our clients to learn new ways to apply our culture changing Technologies during special two-day StreamLearning events conducted each calendar quarter.

StreamLearning is an event hosted by Joe and Elizabeth Lacroix of QWLC where the focus is on learning and the pathway toward learning is mutually defined (see also a StreamLearning Background and History). Much of the Technology enhancements emerge during the StreamLearning events. It is also a showcase opportunity where we invite a very limited number of prospective associates and clients to test the chemistry of our culture in an active environment. StreamLearning events are unique for the following reasons:

• Learner Driven Agenda. We provide a general topic that we believe is of common interest to all our invited guests (there is never a general public invitation to a StreamLearning event). We outline what we hope to achieve and provide some limited needed structure -- participants fill in all the blanks and drive the agenda from that point. People inject whatever they believe to be important to the topic at hand -- and the topic can wander within the scope of the topic frequently.

• Technology Focused. The topic and learning emerge to improve the Technology that all invited guests share. Learnings are used to improve the utility and practicality of the Technology so that those in attendance and those that will follow them will benefit directly by the learnings of the group. Although many of the examples and illustrations that emerge during discussion are from dominant clients, we keep the learnings generalized so that any client system will benefit (see also StreamLearning -- Learning Format).

• Introduction of Potential Consultants to Potential Clients. In our effort to insure an optimum "fit" between new affiliates and our clients culture as well as our own culture, we use the StreamLearning environment to deliberately foster those relationships before they can become more formalized. Prospective consultants have been weeded out before they get a chance to interact with clients in the client environment. Also, we've used the StreamLearning environment to test the chemistry between us and interested clients and effectively shorten the courtship (see also StreamLearning -- Strategy).

• Trial Opportunity for Emerging Consultants and Support Personnel. We are often approached by emerging consultants who would like an opportunity to find out if they are suited to our brand of organization development. StreamLearning events afford a reliable opportunity to discover ones talents. Fledgling consultants often emerge from within a client organization so the "fit" is an ideal one.

• Close-to-the-Client Opportunity. As organization development consultants we need a forum to determine what is working well in a client organization and what is not working well. The StreamLearning environment allows us to get close to our clients and learn what new products and service we might offer that would fill a need, or what products and service must be modified in some way to better serve their needs. We also learn things we need to stop doing altogether.

• Inter-Client Learnings. Many clients benefit from exposure to others who are in the same or similar situation. Often people we work with feel isolated and alone in their situation. The reality is that large complex organizations often take on similar characteristics that everyone would benefit from if known.

• Participation from a Client Slice. When changing the culture of any organization it takes a "slice" from across the organization spectrum to make it happen. No single strata of the organization structure can effectively change the culture, it takes a deliberate combined effort. At StreamLearning events we invite a broad range of participants. We never ask people to identify themselves by their position in the organization -- so your discussion partner might be the president of a multi-national corporation, or might be the bus driver in a county school system. The object is to learn each others legitimate perspectives regardless of the point from which the view emanates (see also StreamLearning -- Who Should Attend StreamLearning Events?).
  

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