Managerial learning challenges in a complex world
Purpose – Managers’ work is surrounded by complex environments, from which they need to learn, in order to understand them. However, complexity poses several challenges to managerial learning, for which usually management educational programs have not prepared managers. Thus, the purpose of this pap...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Emerald Publishing
2019-08-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Work-Applied Management |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JWAM-04-2018-0009/full/pdf?title=managerial-learning-challenges-in-a-complex-world |
| _version_ | 1828161466994262016 |
|---|---|
| author | Gerardo David Abreu Pederzini |
| author_facet | Gerardo David Abreu Pederzini |
| author_sort | Gerardo David Abreu Pederzini |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Purpose – Managers’ work is surrounded by complex environments, from which they need to learn, in order to understand them. However, complexity poses several challenges to managerial learning, for which usually management educational programs have not prepared managers. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to explore such challenges and possible ways to overcome them. Design/methodology/approach – This is a conceptual paper that explores in depth the issue of managerial learning challenges in a complex world. Managers face these challenges during their practice, yet sometimes management education has not prepared them for this. Findings – Three managerial learning challenges due to complexity are identified. First, through cognition and cognitive structures, managers simplify the world around them. Nevertheless, biases, inertia and inaccuracy emerge, as managers’ mental models are not truly capable of capturing complexity. Second, managers look for information to aid them in their learning processes, but the information they gather is sometimes bogus, invalid or unfounded. Third, managers could seek for support from management research to improve their learning. However, given management research intricacies, limitations and particularities, a learning challenge emerges as well, as management research has been rarely capable to capture complexity. Originality/value – Having explored these managerial learning challenges due to complexity, this paper discusses a carefulness-based management learning ideal, which by being underpinned by the quality of carefulness and the related concepts of critical thinking, negative capability and a deep learning style, suggests a potential new way to approach management learning in light of complexity. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T00:39:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f6e8459a5967423f8775025268ec6f3c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2205-2062 2205-149X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T00:39:00Z |
| publishDate | 2019-08-01 |
| publisher | Emerald Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Work-Applied Management |
| spelling | doaj.art-f6e8459a5967423f8775025268ec6f3c2022-12-22T03:55:04ZengEmerald PublishingJournal of Work-Applied Management2205-20622205-149X2019-08-01111172910.1108/JWAM-04-2018-0009613777Managerial learning challenges in a complex worldGerardo David Abreu Pederzini0Kent Business School, University of Kent, Kent, UKPurpose – Managers’ work is surrounded by complex environments, from which they need to learn, in order to understand them. However, complexity poses several challenges to managerial learning, for which usually management educational programs have not prepared managers. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to explore such challenges and possible ways to overcome them. Design/methodology/approach – This is a conceptual paper that explores in depth the issue of managerial learning challenges in a complex world. Managers face these challenges during their practice, yet sometimes management education has not prepared them for this. Findings – Three managerial learning challenges due to complexity are identified. First, through cognition and cognitive structures, managers simplify the world around them. Nevertheless, biases, inertia and inaccuracy emerge, as managers’ mental models are not truly capable of capturing complexity. Second, managers look for information to aid them in their learning processes, but the information they gather is sometimes bogus, invalid or unfounded. Third, managers could seek for support from management research to improve their learning. However, given management research intricacies, limitations and particularities, a learning challenge emerges as well, as management research has been rarely capable to capture complexity. Originality/value – Having explored these managerial learning challenges due to complexity, this paper discusses a carefulness-based management learning ideal, which by being underpinned by the quality of carefulness and the related concepts of critical thinking, negative capability and a deep learning style, suggests a potential new way to approach management learning in light of complexity.https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JWAM-04-2018-0009/full/pdf?title=managerial-learning-challenges-in-a-complex-worldmanagement educationcomplexitycognitionmanagement practicemanagerial learning |
| spellingShingle | Gerardo David Abreu Pederzini Managerial learning challenges in a complex world Journal of Work-Applied Management management education complexity cognition management practice managerial learning |
| title | Managerial learning challenges in a complex world |
| title_full | Managerial learning challenges in a complex world |
| title_fullStr | Managerial learning challenges in a complex world |
| title_full_unstemmed | Managerial learning challenges in a complex world |
| title_short | Managerial learning challenges in a complex world |
| title_sort | managerial learning challenges in a complex world |
| topic | management education complexity cognition management practice managerial learning |
| url | https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JWAM-04-2018-0009/full/pdf?title=managerial-learning-challenges-in-a-complex-world |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT gerardodavidabreupederzini manageriallearningchallengesinacomplexworld |