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Use Case Tree Method
Positive Learning
EKGF/ekg-method

Positive Learning

Positive learning, as defined by project management researcher Bent Flyvbjerg, is the process of improving performance by repeating similar work through standardized, replicable modules. Organizations that embrace positive learning get faster, better, and cheaper at delivery over time.

Why It Matters for EKG

The EKG Method emphasizes positive learning through:

  • Modular use cases - Reusable patterns that can be applied across the enterprise, allowing teams to build on proven approaches rather than starting from scratch.
  • Iterative delivery - Ship, learn, and improve cycles that create feedback loops between the organization and its environment.
  • Standardized components - Ontologies, data products, and stories that accumulate organizational knowledge.

Contrast with Negative Learning

Negative learning occurs when organizations treat each initiative as unique, preventing the accumulation of expertise and causing teams to repeat the same mistakes. This often happens in traditional "big bang" projects where:

  • Each system is built as a bespoke solution
  • Knowledge stays siloed within project teams
  • Lessons learned are documented but never applied
  • The organization doesn't get better at delivery over time

Connection to Perpetual Learning Machine

The concept of positive learning is foundational to the Perpetual Learning Machine architectural pattern, which provides the technical infrastructure to capture and systematize learnings across the enterprise.

References