Title: Organisational learning: a concept for improving teachers' competences in the Estonian School

Authors: Made Torokoff, Tonis Mets

Addresses: University of Tartu Pärnu College, Ringi 35, Parnu EE80010, Estonia. ' Centre for Entrepreneurship, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, University of Tartu, Narva Rd. 4-B104, Tartu EE51009, Estonia

Abstract: The article identifies the features of a Learning Organisation (LO) in the Estonian school, as no surveys in this area have been carried out yet. The article looks at the concepts of development and change, and the background of organisational learning, and it deals with the teacher|s competence-building process at school. The authors prepared a questionnaire for the study of the LO on the basis of the Senge|s LO model and the three-dimension model of the framework of organisation development. The base model of the questionnaire, which arose from Senge|s five-factor model, covered the structure of the questionnaire as the result of the factor analysis, which is characteristic of the three-factor model: the main process, individual and joint learning, and the mental (value) system. Senge|s model may not have been operational owing to chaotic development activities. We argue on the basis of this survey that the development process in schools lacks system and concept. The article presents recommendations to launch a LO in the school.

Keywords: learning organisations; teacher competences; general education; Estonian schools; Estonia.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2008.015954

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2008 Vol.5 No.1, pp.64 - 82

Published online: 02 Dec 2007 *

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