The Domains of Organizational Learning Practices: An Agency-Structure Perspective
Background: Organizational learning theory has retained considerable attention in the past decades from a wide array of academic disciplines in social sciences. Yet few integrative efforts have satisfactorily offered a comprehensive and systematic articulation of the concept of organizational learni...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2015-10-01
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| Series: | Societies |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/5/4/713 |
| _version_ | 1819294911601573888 |
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| author | Nancy Beauregard Louise Lemyre Jacques Barrette |
| author_facet | Nancy Beauregard Louise Lemyre Jacques Barrette |
| author_sort | Nancy Beauregard |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Organizational learning theory has retained considerable attention in the past decades from a wide array of academic disciplines in social sciences. Yet few integrative efforts have satisfactorily offered a comprehensive and systematic articulation of the concept of organizational learning with regards to: (a) its core constitutive dimensions and associated mechanisms; (b) the analytical levels from such mechanisms operate (e.g., workers, teams, organizations); as well as (c) their interplay. Methods: This article builds on a critical synthesis of predominant approaches in organizational learning theory (i.e., structural functionalist, social constructivist and middle range approaches), highlighting the contributions of each approach on the key analytical elements guiding our inquiry (i.e., core dimensions and associated mechanisms, analytical levels, interplay). Drawing from the work of sociologists Anthony Giddens and Margaret Archer on agency-structure theory, we develop a series of theoretical propositions supporting the Organizational Learning Practices (OLP) concept as a unifying heuristic tool. Results: OLP are defined as a set of collectively shared practices held by members of a given organization embedded in normative, political, and semantic dynamics. At the heart of such dynamics lies organizational knowledge as a power resource pivotal to the sustainable development of organizations, as well as that of their members. Conclusion: OLP offer promising answers to on-going debates in organizational learning theory, and we conclude by discussing concrete guidelines to advance research and practice on OLP. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-24T04:33:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-291efc340f91420aa1bebdc4e8ed2c58 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4698 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-24T04:33:51Z |
| publishDate | 2015-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Societies |
| spelling | doaj.art-291efc340f91420aa1bebdc4e8ed2c582022-12-21T17:15:16ZengMDPI AGSocieties2075-46982015-10-015471373310.3390/soc5040713soc5040713The Domains of Organizational Learning Practices: An Agency-Structure PerspectiveNancy Beauregard0Louise Lemyre1Jacques Barrette2School of Industrial Relations, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC H3C 3J7, CanadaSchool of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, CanadaTelfer School of Management, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, CanadaBackground: Organizational learning theory has retained considerable attention in the past decades from a wide array of academic disciplines in social sciences. Yet few integrative efforts have satisfactorily offered a comprehensive and systematic articulation of the concept of organizational learning with regards to: (a) its core constitutive dimensions and associated mechanisms; (b) the analytical levels from such mechanisms operate (e.g., workers, teams, organizations); as well as (c) their interplay. Methods: This article builds on a critical synthesis of predominant approaches in organizational learning theory (i.e., structural functionalist, social constructivist and middle range approaches), highlighting the contributions of each approach on the key analytical elements guiding our inquiry (i.e., core dimensions and associated mechanisms, analytical levels, interplay). Drawing from the work of sociologists Anthony Giddens and Margaret Archer on agency-structure theory, we develop a series of theoretical propositions supporting the Organizational Learning Practices (OLP) concept as a unifying heuristic tool. Results: OLP are defined as a set of collectively shared practices held by members of a given organization embedded in normative, political, and semantic dynamics. At the heart of such dynamics lies organizational knowledge as a power resource pivotal to the sustainable development of organizations, as well as that of their members. Conclusion: OLP offer promising answers to on-going debates in organizational learning theory, and we conclude by discussing concrete guidelines to advance research and practice on OLP.http://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/5/4/713organizational learningagency-structure theoryorganizational identity |
| spellingShingle | Nancy Beauregard Louise Lemyre Jacques Barrette The Domains of Organizational Learning Practices: An Agency-Structure Perspective Societies organizational learning agency-structure theory organizational identity |
| title | The Domains of Organizational Learning Practices: An Agency-Structure Perspective |
| title_full | The Domains of Organizational Learning Practices: An Agency-Structure Perspective |
| title_fullStr | The Domains of Organizational Learning Practices: An Agency-Structure Perspective |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Domains of Organizational Learning Practices: An Agency-Structure Perspective |
| title_short | The Domains of Organizational Learning Practices: An Agency-Structure Perspective |
| title_sort | domains of organizational learning practices an agency structure perspective |
| topic | organizational learning agency-structure theory organizational identity |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/5/4/713 |
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