Title: Facilitating organisational learning through teamwork-based knowledge management: evidence from Spain

Authors: Salvador Vivas-López; Marta Peris-Ortiz; Victor Oltra

Addresses: Department of Business Management, Facultat d'Economia, University of Valencia, Av. Tarongers, s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain ' Department of Business Management, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camí de Vera, s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain ' Department of Business Management, Facultat d'Economia, University of Valencia, Av. Tarongers, s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain

Abstract: In the context of organisational learning optimisation through knowledge management policies, it is essential to pay careful attention to teamwork design and dynamics. Having these ideas in mind, the aim of our paper is to empirically study whether a number of knowledge management policies related to team design and dynamics facilitate organisational learning processes across the different ontological levels (individual, group, and organisational-institutional). Hence, we propose a model linking teamwork-design based on knowledge management policies (including the sub-dimensions of team composition, team bonding, and team bridging) and organisational learning. We test this model in a sample of large Spanish companies. Our findings highlight the role of, on the one hand, individual-group learning level and, on the other hand, institutional learning level, as the two cornerstones of organisational learning. Furthermore, team autonomy and creativity stand out as crucial factors for successful knowledge management policies.

Keywords: knowledge management; organisational learning; teams; teamwork design; teamwork dynamics; Spain; modelling; team composition; team bonding; team bridging; individual learning; group learning; institutional learning; team autonomy; team creativity.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIL.2015.070245

International Journal of Innovation and Learning, 2015 Vol.18 No.1, pp.65 - 80

Published online: 01 Jul 2015 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article