ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING - A REVIEW OF SOME LITERATURES

Organizational learning is currently the focus of considerable attenti on, and it is addressed by a broad range of literatures. Organization theory, industrial economics, economic history, and business, manageme nt and innovation studies all approach the question of how organizatio ns learn. A number of branches of psychology are also revealing on the issue. This paper assesses these various literatures by examining the insights they allow in three main areas: first, the goals of organiza tional learning; second, the learning processes in organizations; and third, the ways in which organizational learning may be facilitated an d impeded. It contends that while the various literatures are revealin g in particular aspects of organizational learning, a more complete un derstanding of its complexity requires a multi-disciplinary approach. The contributions of the different approaches are analyzed, and some a reas are suggested where the transfer of analytical concepts may impro ve understanding.