Local Health Departments as Learning Organizations

The Dimensions of the Learning Organization Questionnaire (DLOQ) was administered to four local health departments (LHDs) in Michigan in 2006, to address the question of how to extend the organizational capacity of local health departments, both to improve workforce development and ultimately the health of the populations they serve. Developed by Drs. Karen Watkins, the University of Georgia at Athens and Victoria Marsick, Columbia University Teachers College, the DLOQ has been used and validated with both for-profit and non-profit organizations for well over a decade to help address the changes an organization must undergo to meet the challenges of a rapidly evolving external environment.

This data was shared in a workshop with local public health leaders in Michigan to develop next steps for developing LHDs as Learning Organizations. The data set included almost 700 responses (68%) from geographically and organizationally diverse LHDs and showed a marked difference in responses from the normative sample.

In this session, we will present the Dimensions of the Learning Organization Questionnaire and share the results of the Michigan study of LHDs. We will describe the role of leadership in engaging in the study and in creating and maintaining a learning culture within their organizations. Next steps determined by workshop participants will also be described in this session as a framework for other organizations interested in developing this work within their own organizations. Further steps underway through the Michigan Public Health Training Center for developing local health departments as learning organizations will also be discussed.