BUSINESS has become a turbulent white water ride, according to an academic who claims bosses risk undermining their organisation's performance by failing to update their learning.

Professor Ian Cunningham, of Strategic Develoments (International) said at a seminar in Kent that there was no longer any stability for business. It had to respond rapidly to constant change and competitive pressures, challenges that had not affected previous generations of managers.

He said: "There used to be periods of calm but now it's permanent white water and turbulence.

"The old literature on change used to say - unfreeze the organisation, change it and re-freeze it. That's just total nonsense, there is no re-freezing now. Whitewater rafting is a good metaphor for organisational change and the need for learning."

It highlighted the need for bosses to look after themselves and their colleagues. If you were going to fall out of a white water raft, it was wise to fall on your bottom rather than face down. "If you don't do that, you are going to die," he warned.

Prof Cunningham is concerned executives are neglecting their own training needs and therefore damaging the effectiveness and performance of their business.

The seminar at Canterbury Business School highlighted the dangers for bosses who fail to make time to learn, and encouraged them to set up "learning groups" to share experiences.

Owners of small businesses in particular focused too much on their own situation instead of going out and looking at the ideas of others, Prof Cunningham said.

"It's important to move from blame culture to gain culture. Often people aren't clear about where they are and the learning group can sometimes help them become much clearer about their starting point. People imagine that they are doing better or worse than they really are."

The course was run by Business Link Kent and co-hosted by Brian Urwin, of 1-Stop Personnel and Development, Rainham.