Cohesion or confusion? Towards a typology for organizational learning research

Abstract

The study of organizational learning is no longer in its infancy. Since Cyert and March first introduced the notion in the early 1960s, a plethora of books and journal publications have presented their own interpretations of the meaning and significance of the term. Despite such endeavours, there is little common agreement about what organizational learning represents and how future research may build cumulatively upon the many diverse ideas articulated. The intention here is by no means to address these issues, which have been comprehensively examined elsewhere. The purpose is rather to compare and contrast approaches in order to analyse similarities and dissimilarities, together with research challenges, for each approach. This is achieved by presenting a comparative framework to categorize the literature according to (a) its prescriptive/explanatory bias and (b) in line with the level of analysis, examining whether there is a focus on the organization as a whole or upon individuals and their work communities instead. The review concludes by presenting some preliminary suggestions for cross-quadrant research. © Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2006.

Publication DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2370.2006.00129.x
Divisions: College of Business and Social Sciences > Aston Business School > Work & Organisational Psychology
College of Business and Social Sciences > Aston Business School
Additional Information: The definitive version is available at www.interscience.wiley.com
Uncontrolled Keywords: organizational learning,Management of Technology and Innovation,Strategy and Management,Decision Sciences(all)
Publication ISSN: 1468-2370
Last Modified: 23 Oct 2019 10:19
Date Deposited: 02 Nov 2009 14:31
Full Text Link: http://onlineli ... 0129.x/abstract
Related URLs: http://www.scop ... tnerID=8YFLogxK (Scopus URL)
Published Date: 2006-12
Authors: Shipton, Helen

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