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Participants were asked to describe the organisation as a student to understand their
learning attitude. A majority of respondents suggested a positive student-like attitude.
NSO2, for example, said: “it would be a very good student (personal communication, April
21, 2008). NSO5 also concurred “I actually think we’re a really good student when it
comes to learning (personal communication, June 3, 2008).
NSO4 took a more broad approach “I’d like to think open-minded. But again, that
relates to the organisation as a whole.... But I, that’s a general statement” (personal
communication, April 23, 2008). NSO1 foresaw a future goal of the NSO “I would use the
adjective enthusiastic, as a student...I don’t know what it used to be like but that’s how I’d
like to see us” (personal communication, April 18, 2008).
It was NSO3 that disagreed with these previous responses justifying the inabilities
of the NSO as a student:
I would say there’d be some aspects as an organisation, as a student overstretched,
so that might prohibit some level of learning. Overstretched by capacity to, it would
almost be like the best analogy would be a student who’s working full time and
trying to squeeze a Masters degree around a 60 hour a week job. (personal
communication, April 22, 2008)
When wanting to understand the capacity of the NSO in what had been learnt
participants were unable to elaborate on any such examples. However when further probed
about what areas that they could possibly learn from the PSF some respondents were able
to elaborate. For example NSO1 felt that they lacked the skills in the area of marketing
“probably marketing and branding opportunities, I think they’re ahead of us in that regard”
(personal communication, April 18, 2008). NSO5 also supported this “they’ve got lots of
tell us about go-go girls and people [doing sporting tricks]. Well that’s all the marketing
and promotional side of the game” (personal communication, June 3, 2008)
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