Fostering Organizational Learning Process: Evidence from an R&D Organization

Abstract

Organizational Learning occurs when the insights and learning of individual members are transfered to the larger organizational system. Various organizational processes enable this transfer to take place effectively. This paper presents an emprirical investigation of the impact of different organizational processes on organizational learning. The study involved 260 middle and senior level managers from seven major sub-units of a large national organization engaged in R&D and project management. Organizational processes of managerial orientation, allocation of managerial alteration, conflict management and leadership styles were examined for their contribution to organizational learning. Results suggest that organizational processes do bear significant association to the various organizational learning dimensions. Managers adopting developmental or nurturant-task styles of leadership, proactive methods of conflict mangement, having an explicit agenda of change and innovation, supporting...