Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of instruments defined as artefacts, rules, models or norms, in the articulation between knowing-in-practice and knowledge, in learning processes. Design/methodology/approach: The paper focuses on a distributed, knowledge-intensive and instrumented activity at the core of any collective…

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to introduce the Special Issue; to provide a practitioner's retrospective views of the learning organization concept; and to comment on the status of "The Learning Organization" journal. Design/methodology/approach: The approach adopted involves recounting a personal history of a practitioner's experiences…

Purpose: The purpose of this research paper is to explore the learning process associated with international mergers and acquisitions (M&A) integration strategies. Design/methodology/approach: The paper employs a comparative case study methodology, utilising qualitative data through in-depth interviews with top management responsible for…

Purpose: In an effort to better understand the political dimensions of organizational learning, this paper aims to examine learning processes in an organizational context--namely renegotiation of pay and performance management arrangements--where the interests of organizational members are threatened. Design/methodology/approach: Data were derived…

Purpose: The aim of this article is to examine whether the boundary between the separate worlds of evaluation and frontline work in a hospital can be overcome. The study provides an example of a rare, innovative creation process of an assessment tool in which the tool users and the tool producer participated. The article aims to widen the…

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to reflect on the journal and organizational learning over the years. Design/methodology/approach: The approach adopted is that of providing a viewpoint perspective to look at the concept of the learning organization. Findings: By looking at organizational learning partly from the perspective of a publisher,…

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the role of trust in the collaborative learning processes that underpin innovation as a competitive strategy in organizations. Design/methodology/approach: As a conceptual paper, the argument is framed by academic perspectives, drawn from the academic literature on the topic and by professional and…

Describes organizational learning as existing activities or processes of learning in organizations and the learning organization as an ideal form of organization. Further distinguishes the two concepts on the dimensions of amount of normativity, entities of learning, and location of knowledge. (Contains 56 references.) (SK)

Builds a model of competence development based on organizational learning theory. Proposes a typology of competence: a single technology and a few people, interwoven technologies in a larger unit, and complex systems connecting many people and units. Adapts a Johari window model for understanding organizational learning. (Contains 44 references.)…

A model of learning process stages (ignorance, awareness, understanding, commitment, enactment, reflection) was applied in workshops for organizational management teams. The workshops laid the foundation for a systematic approach to learning in organizations. (SK)

Distinguishes between organizational learning, which deals with learning processes in organizations, and the concept of learning organizations, which has a prescriptive and practical focus. Outlines a theoretical framework that links the two streams. Contains 55 references. (SK)

Diverse ways people learn in their work include learning from mistakes, self-education on and off the job, practice of personal values, application of theory, skills practice, problem solving, interaction with others, lateral planning, advocacy, leadership, formal training, and practice of quality assurance. (SK)

Discusses the role of information in knowledge creation; distinguishes between individual and organizational knowledge; addresses the importance of an organizational learning culture. Recommends that managers use self-managed teams, understand organizations as socially flexible systems, and analyze knowledge from multiple perspectives. (Contains…

Explores continuous improvement methods, which underlie total quality management, finding barriers to implementation in practice that are related to a one-dimensional approach. Suggests a multiple, unbounded learning cycle, a holistic approach that includes adaptive learning, learning styles, generative learning, and capability development.…

Four themes were identified in a conference of managers undertaking workplace learning programs: modeling learning processes in organizations, organizational readiness, teamwork and learning, and networked learning. An agenda for systemized organizational learning was developed. (SK)