Learning Organisation


The learning organisation is an organisation characterised by a deep commitment to learning and education with the intention of continuous improvement. This concept reviews several theories relating to the learning organisation, including some criticism. Also, it examines some evidence on how learning organisations operate.

Technique Overview

Learning Organisation

Learning Organisation Definition

Learning organisations facilitate collective learning to continually improve capacity to respond to changing environmental demands. This permeates organisational activities, structures, processes, climate and values, enhancing the ability to react quickly to opportunities and threats (Probst and Buchel, 1997; Wang and Ahmed, 2003). Recent research clarifies how organisational learning (processes), the learning organisation (context/architecture), and learning orientation (strategic posture) interrelate, helping avoid conceptual overlap and guide design choices (Alerasoul et al., 2022).

Learning Organisation Description *

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Business Evidence

Strengths, weaknesses and examples of Learning Organisation *

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Business Application

Implementation, success factors and measures of Learning Organisation *

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Professional Tools

Learning Organisation videos and downloads *

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Further Reading

Learning Organisation web and print resources *

Learning Organisation references (4 of up to 20) *

  • Alerasoul, S.A., Afeltra, G., Hakala, H., Minelli, E. and Strozzi, F., 2022. Organisational learning, learning organisation, and learning orientation: An integrative review and framework. Human Resource Management Review, 32(3), p.100854.
  • Argyris, C. and Schon, D. (1978) Organizational Learning: A Theory of Action Perspective. Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA.
  • Bernstein, E.S., Sandino, T., Minnaar, J. and Lobb, A., 2022. Buurtzorg. Harvard Business School Case 122-101. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Publishing (rev. Jan 2023). https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/item.aspx?num=62594&utm
  • Burnes, B. (2009) Managing Change. (5th Ed.) Pearson Education, Essex, UK.

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