When talking about continuous learning organizations, the word “continuous” bears emphasis. “Continuous” is used in the sense that one does not conduct a single study at a single point in time and then use it as a basis for all following activities. I worked on mapping new product development processes at a major manufacturer of telecommunications gear. We mapped their processes for four years, from conception to launch; at the beginning of the process they hired a consulting firm to do a major study of the market.