Organisational Learning

Through their daily engagement with their work, individuals are constantly acquiring professional and organizational knowledge. With the aim of tapping into this rich resource and diffusing information across boundaries, organizations have tasked themselves with developing collaborative learning programmes.

Drawing on themes of organizational development, knowledge management and human resource management, this book acknowledges a broad base for the origins and practice of organizational learning and in so doing sets itself apart from other texts. It critically considers epistemological issues of the nature of knowledge, pedagogical issues around learning as individuals, groups, teams and whole organisations, and technological issues around the development of knowledge-based information systems. Supporting case studies are provided throughout the book, and readers will also benefit from a supporting website which expands on the key themes of the text.

Organizational Learning will enable readers to develop and implement strategies for ensuring long-term access to the embedded knowledge and experience of an organization, thus enabling it to function competitively within the emerging digital environment. This textbook will be valuable reading for undergraduate and postgraduate students on organizational learning, HRM and knowledge management courses.

Roderick Smith is Senior Lecturer in Organizational Learning at Robert Gordon University, UK.