Abstract
Organizational learning is currently the focus of considerable attention, and it is addressed by a broad range of literatures. Organization theory, industrial econ omics, economic history, and business, management and innovation studies all approach the question of how organizations learn. A number of branches of psychology are also revealing on the issue. This paper assesses these various literatures by examining the insights they allow in three main areas: first, the goals of organizational learning; second, the learning processes in organizations; and third, the ways in which organizational learning may be facilitated and impeded. It contends that while the various literatures are revealing in particular aspects of organizational learning, a more complete understanding of its complexity requires a multi-disciplinary approach. The contributions of the different approaches are analyzed, and some areas are suggested where the transfer of analytical concepts may improve understanding.
Keywords
Organizational learningKnowledge managementDisciplineOrganizational studiesSociologyFocus (optics)Organizational theoryOrganization developmentManagement scienceComputer scienceManagementSocial scienceEngineeringEconomics
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Publication Info
- Year
- 1993
- Type
- review
- Volume
- 14
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 375-394
- Citations
- 1950
- Access
- Closed
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Cite This
Mark Dodgson
(1993).
Organizational Learning: A Review of Some Literatures.
Organization Studies
, 14
(3)
, 375-394.
https://doi.org/10.1177/017084069301400303
Identifiers
- DOI
- 10.1177/017084069301400303