ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING: A MULTILEVEL PERSPECTIVE

Agnieszka Skuza
Habte G. Woldu
Shawn Alborz
The University of Texas at Dallas, USA

ABSTRACT

This study investigates the multilevel factors that contribute to the development of a
learning organization. An exploratory approach was adopted using focus group interviews
conducted with a higher-ranking manager, drawn from various corporations in Poland, Central
and Eastern Europe’s (CEE) biggest economy. Thematic analysis technique helped identify four
individual level (i.e. open-mindedness, innovativeness and creativity, commitment to self-
development, and commitment to knowledge sharing) and five organization-level factors (i.e.
supervisor’s support, knowledge creation, top management commitment to learning, development
of learning skills and motivational systems supporting learning) that might leverage individual
learning orientation. It was found that learning organizations reflect on these organizational
factors continuously and assess their influence on the attitudes and behaviors of employees. It was
also noted that none of these, either individual or organizational, factors would be effective in
isolation and that they are interdependent upon each other.
Keywords: Organizational learning, learning organization, knowledge sharing