Learning Organization [reviewed article]

• Author: Antonoaie, N. - Antonoaie, C.
• Position: Dept. of Economic Sciences and Business Administration, Transilvania University of Brasov
• Pages: 67-70

Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Braşov

Series V: Economic Sciences • Vol. 7 (56) No. 1 - 2014

LEARNING ORGANIZATION

[REVIEWED ARTICLE]

N. ANTONOAIE 1 C. ANTONOAIE 1

Abstract: “The essence of LOs is effective organizational learning, but

relevant academic disciplines, such as economics, anthropology, and social

psychology, all entail different assumptions about what this might actually

mean. Assorted analytical approaches such as population ecology and

sociotechnical systems theory offer distinctly different vocabularies for

describing what the LO might be or what it might do.” [Snell, 2007]

The learning organization (LO) is an idealized vision of an organization

where the structures, routines, and working practices are open to continuous

adaptation and improvement, where the individuals and teams engage in

continuous learning, where the norms and values are supportive of

continuous learning, and where strategic decision making is informed by and

responsive to relevant data analysis and feedback .

Key words: learning organization, structure, continuous learning.

1 Dept. of Economic Sciences and Business Administration, Transilvania University of Braşov.

1. Introduction

Information processing and decision

making by firms are typically not done by

one person. Rather decisions are made by

groups of people either in committees or

hierarchical structures. Bounded rationality

and computational costs preclude the

possibility of any one agent collecting,

processing and deciding about information

relevant to the firm and its profitability.

Large firms, for example, employ

hundreds, even thousands of “managers”

who do not produce or sell anything, but

rather process information and make

decisions.

2. Contents

“The literature on the LO is a colorful

mosaic of diverse perspectives from

academics and practitioners. The essence

of LOs is effective organizational learning,

but relevant academic disciplines, such as

economics, anthropology, and social

psychology, all entail different

assumptions about what this might actually

mean. Assorted analytical approaches such

as population ecology and sociotechnical

This article was first published in BUT, Vol. 3 (52) – 2010 Series V: Economic Sciences.

Out of an unfortunate error we did not mention (both in t he article and in the references) the

fact that we used a quote from the paper „Learning Organization, International Encyclopedia

of Organization Studies” by Professor dr. Robin Stanley Snell. Consequently we have

republished the article with all the appropriate quotations and references and with our

dee

p

est sincere a

p

olo

g

ies for the mistake

,

a

p

olo

gy

addressed directl

y

to Professor R.S. Snell.