The Fifth Discipline

The Art and Practice of the Learning Organization

By: Peter M. Senge

Narrated by: Peter M. Senge

Length: 4 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's Summary

Peter Senge's groundbreaking ideas on building organizations have made him a household name among corporate managers. His theories help businesses to clarify their goals, to defy the odds, to more clearly understand threats, and to recognize new opportunities. He introduces managers to a new source of competitive advantage, and offers a marvelously empowering approach to work.

Mastery of Senge's five disciplines enables managers to overcome their obstacles to growth and creates brave new futures for them and their companies. The five disciplines are drawn from science, spiritual wisdom, psychology, the cutting edge of management thought, and Senge's own work with top corporations that employ his methods. Listening to The Fifth Discipline provides a searching personal experience and a dramatic professional shift of mind.

©1994 Peter M. Senge (P)1994 Bantam Doubleday Dell Audio Publishing, a Division of Random House Inc., All Rights Reserved

Abridged books are inadequate

I know better than to buy an abridged book but yet I did it again. You are not going to get the details you need to understand Learing Organizations. If you purchase this you will find your self on-line trying to find the details needed to make this learning complete.

Disappointing

Shame on me for not realizing this was an abridged version, and the older version of the book no less! So much for trying to follow along with the printed copy. Taught me to read the details closely before buying next time.

This should be marked as an abridged version!

I did not know I was getting abridged version, no mention in description from mobile, please correct the listing details.

Great book, needs updated audiobook

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

I knew I was getting the abridged audiobook from the 1994 edition, but the content is drastically different from the 2006 version. The Audible version is listed along with the 2006 edition is you search audio, so if you want the main points of the updated text, you won't be disappointed. However, know that you are missing out on a lot of information and helpful illustrations. I wish an UNABRIDGED audiobook was available for the updated edition.

SUMMARY: not the full book

This is not even close to the full book. It is an extremely short summary. Do not be fooled.

Senge narrates only part of the program

Good program, that gives a comprehensive perspective. The fact that Peter Senge is not the narrator for the entire program should have been made clear.

would like unabridged and latest version

seemed overly simplified to shorten for audio. would like unabridged release and please update to latest version.

missing a lot

Did not actually match the book. A lot of information is left out. Disappointed In the chapter breakdown as well.

This is the abridged version

What would have made The Fifth Discipline better?

The abridged version has less than half of the full text. There is a lot missing from this version.

Great explanation of how systems work

This book explained what I would have called "teamwork" very well. I became better able to express how people who are independent and highly talented can achieve better results if they understand that they are part of a system. I see how people can take independent action, but also recognize their responsibilities to a system which includes co-workers and supervisors. This was very helpful to me as a supervisor.

Great but you need the book as well

This is great to listen to, although he doesn't narrate the whole thing - hearing Peter Senge's enthusiasm is fantastic. A word of warning though, because systems thinking is a visual thing you should treat this as a companion to the book rather than a replacement. You won't get the idea of systems diagrams from just listening.

This is only a fraction of the book

Very disappointing - feel conned. The only positive are the bits where Peter Senge speaks - quite a captivating speaker.

Immensely useful and intelligently abridged

Senge's business best seller offers an accessible and very practical guide to improving organisational performance through a focus on conversational technique, an appreciation of various types of feedback loop and the ability to recognise our mental models and test if they're true or useful. I was a little concerned that this had been abridged but it loses nothing in coherence or useful detail and I've been able to put a number of fifth discipline techniques to work with good results since making this purchase. Anyone with an interest in organisational development, project management, team leadership or management development would benefit from listening to this book

A must read for all!

I have had the pleasure of reading Peter Senges book as well as listening to this audio version. I say version as the book is more comprehensive with over 400 pages and therefore the 4 hours of narative does not cover all of the books content.

That said, I don't think the audiable version omits any of the pertinent points, in fact hearing Peter explain his thoughts increases (at least for me) comprehension of the theory behind the idea of a learning organisation.

If you want to learn more about learning organisations, mental models, shared vision, self mastery, team learning and systems thinking from Peter Senges perspective, I suggest purchasing both versions of his book like I did.

Great but not the full book

Let’s be clear, the audiobook is great! Most of the book is read by a voice and some party by Peter Senge. Having Peter Senge giving some insight about the book is unique... however I would have liked to know that this is not the (audio)book before purchasing it.

Now I need to actually read the book...

I hope people will read comments before purchasing this , I did not.

Worth the time if you have the money

Genius

Peter Senge is a genius! this very in depth work into systems thinking, lifelong learning and the learning organisation is amazing. changed how I practice OD

nice for business Oriente people

it was nice. specially the beer game story. learning is everywhere and you learn as you go

Interesting ideas, content doesn’t feel very substantial

This book just felt very “light” in substance. The theories are good but very little in way of practical ideas to implement. Will be getting the field book to see if that sheds more light on the subject.

Life changing

Although it is an abridged version it still affected me and slightly changed my life
Hope audible provide the full version soon

Great concept

Great concept and opened my eyes to system thinking. However I found the format jumpy as it explained the ideals and my mind wandered while listening rather than being engaged throughout. this could have been the result of the chapters being rather long.