"Planning as Learning" was published during Arie's tenancy as Group Planning Coordinator at Royal Dutch Shell and, to a certain extent, could be seen as part of an internal debate with his colleagues. In those days, there was a lot of scepticism whether the verb "to learn" was applicable to the decision taking process at high levels of complex and sophisticated organisations like Shell. The article attracted a lot of attention, and not only internally in the Shell Group. Several translations and elaborations were published in the ensuing years:
Foreword, Modelling to predict or to learn? European Journal of Operational Research vol. 59, nr.1 - 26 May 1992 - Elsevier Science Publishers bv -(English) - ISSN 0377-2217
L'Avenir est pluriel - La Prospective Stratégique d'entreprise - January 1996 - InterÉditions - (French) - ISBN 2 7296 0443 X - http://www.dunod.com/pages/ouvrages/ficheouvrage.asp?id=45286
Planejamento como aprendizado Como as Organizaçoes Aprendem - 1997 - Editora Futura - www.siciliano.com.br - (Portuguese) - ISBN 85-86082-25-2
The Knowledge: Arie de Geus - Knowledge Management, vol.6, issue 10 - July/Aug 2003 - Ark Group - www.kmmagazine.com - (English)
Being exposed to a widening field of institutions (from the World Bank and universities to many major industries and Government organisations) created curiosity in Arie's mind and a new theme developed: "What is the real nature of companies?".
The Living Company
translated into more than twenty languages having received numerous awards. Named one of the ten best business books. Business Week 1997
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