Handbook of Organizational Learning and Knowledge Management, Second Edition

Tailoring Theory and Application

As the study of organizational learning has grown and matured during the past decade, it has become increasingly obvious that no single theory, model, or mode of learning applies equally to the diversity of organizations. If learning is fundamentally a process of adaptation, then what and how organizations need to learn will be a function of the environments in which they operate. While we increasingly share the same global economic environment on a macro level, micro operational environments remain distinct. For example, the competitive environment (and hence learning demands) of a city-wide franchise of hair salons is distinct from that of an inter-state shipping company. No one theory can offer applications that are equally effective across the wide array of operational environments in which organizations must function (Pettigrew, 2005).

If our goal is improved or more relevant learning, then our focus needs to be less on theory and more on practical learning tools or methods. The need for, and greater recognition of, tailored learning practices is reflected in the growth of research in particular contexts. Such research has allowed for the identification and evaluation of specific learning practices or techniques. In particular, the healthcare field has been a major area of interest. That is due in part to the publicity given to medical error and the interest among hospital administrators in how a learning environment can reduce preventable ...