Focusing on the critical role IT plays in organizational development, the book shows how to employ action learning to improve the competitiveness of an organization. Defining the current IT problem from an operational and strategic perspective, it presents a collection of case studies that illustrate key learning issues. It details a dynamic model for effective IT management through adaptive learning techniques—supplying proven educational theories and practices to foster the required changes in your staff. It examines existing organizational learning theories and the historical problems that occurred with companies that have used them, as well as those that have failed to use them.

`A valuable resource for academics and practitioners in management and corporate strategy, as well as those involved in mangement training and development' - European Foundation for Management Development 'The editors' overall assessment is that there has been insufficient dialogue between the two camps of action research and theorizing.... As a contribution to mapping this divided house, the text is an apt illustration of these problems. The editor's overview is of interest...' - Stephen Gibb, University of Strathclyde, MCB University Press The debates surrounding concepts of `organizational learning' and the `learning organization' receive a welcome synthezis in this book. Inte

Why do some organizations learn at faster rates than others? Why do organizations "forget"? Could productivity gains acquired in one part of an organization be transferred to another? These are among the questions addressed in Organizational Learning: Creating, Retaining and Transferring Knowledge. Since its original publication in 1999, this book has set the standard for research and analysis in the field. This fully updated and expanded edition showcases the most current research and insights, featuring a new chapter that provides a theoretical framework for analyzing organizational learning and presents evidence about how the organizational context affects learning processes and outcomes. Drawing from a wide array of studies across the spectrum of management, economics, sociology, and psychology, Organizational Learning explores the dynamics of learning curves in organizations, with particular emphasis on how individuals and groups generate, share, reinforce, and sometimes forget knowledge. With an increased emphasis on service organizations, including healthcare, Linda Argote demonstrates that organizations vary dramatically in the rates at which they learn—with profound implications for productivity, performance, and managerial and strategic decision making.

This book is designed to help business and individual managers understand and cope with the many issues involved in developing learning organizations and integrating an important component: their IT organizations. The book provides a combination of research case studies and existing theories on organizational learning in the workplace, to provide researchers and corporate practitioners tools to incorporate a growing information technology infrastructure with their existing workforce culture.

The ability of a business to engage in real organizational learning and to do so faster and in a more sustainable way than its competitors is being increasingly seen as an essential component of success. In Making Sense of Organizational Learning, Cyril Kirwan examines the wide range of factors necessary to create and sustain organizational learning and knowledge at all levels. At the individual level, the generation of continuous learning opportunities and reflection on experiences are critically important. At the team level, it’s about encouraging collaboration, team learning and the sharing of knowledge. At the organizational level, the emphasis is on building systems to capture and share knowledge and providing strategic leadership for learning. The book shows you how you can best exploit the knowledge that already exists within your organization while at the same time develop the capability of the people that work there. It deals in turn with individual learning; learning with others; learning in organizations; and in particular the role of the HR function and of line managers. Each chapter provides theoretical background and real-world examples. Diagnostic questionnaires, checklists and other tools are also included. Making Sense of Organizational Learning provides an evidence-based argument for the adoption of effective organizational learning policies and practices, and offers a real opportunity to improve performance. Thinking practitioners working in and around learning and development or organization development will find it invaluable, as will those undertaking post-graduate study in HR and related disciplines.

Organizations capture and deploy what they have learned in four ways: Culture, Old Pros, Archives, and Processes. This book describes the four approaches, their strength and shortcomings, and their interactions.

Acknowledgments -- Organizational learning and performance -- Learning as an individual -- Three metaphors of learning as an individual -- Thinking dispositions that foster learning -- Building a learning culture -- Transparency and pursuing truth -- Big picture thinking and learning -- Learning from failure -- Learning and innovation -- Leadership and building a learning culture -- References -- Appendix: learning culture survey