Home / Welcome Letter Expectations of employees are rising as never before, from workplace initiatives such as: new technology, participative management, employee involvement, team-based problem solving and quality customer service. As a result, the workplace is changing and so are the skills that employees must have to be able to cope, keep pace with competition and technology and anticipate and change with it. Personal development, lifelong learning, and organizational learning are important components of an individual's or organization's efforts at enhancing productivity and competitiveness and fostering continuous improvement. It has been said, "There is no such thing as excellent organizations, only those that believe in continuous improvement." At the Center for Organizational and Personal Excellence, this principle is taken a step further when we say, "There is no such thing as excellent individuals, only those that believe in continuous improvement." We believe the ultimate objective of an individual's or organization's continuous improvement efforts are to change behavior or an individual's visible observable actions. Behavioral change occurs as an individual/participant goes through the following four levels of learning: Level #1: Awareness: The learner is introduced to-and experiences-the content of the learning situation or event (ie: new information, viewpoint or perspective). Level #2: Understanding or Knowledge: The learner places the learning event in context, connecting concepts, causes, components, and consequences associated with the event. Level #3: Skill: The learner integrates and applies the understanding or knowledge learned to his/her current perspective and situation. Level #4: Behavior, Attitude, or Values: The learner undergoes a change in behavior, attitude, and values as a result of the learning experience. At the skill level, the learner can perform the new behavior; at the attitude level, he or she wants to perform the new behavior. This demonstrates and underscores our belief that "learning hasn't occurred unless behavior has changed." It is our hope that you and members of your organization will experience level #4 results through utilizing the materials, resources, interactions, and seminars offered through this website and the training and consultation services offered by the Center for Organizational and Personal Excellence. Yours in Learning, Dr. Daniel Duffy, Executive Director Center for Organizational and Personal Excellence 2006 © The Center for Organizational and Personal Excellence