Title: The impacts of team learning on the development of a learning organisation: a cultural perspective

Authors: Chao-Hua Li; Kun-Shan Su

Addresses: Department of Business Administration, TransWorld University, No. 1221, Zhennan Rd., Douliu City, Yunlin County 640, Taiwan ' Department of Anesthesiology, St. Joseph's Hospital, No. 74, Sinsheng Rd., Huwei Township, Yunlin County 632, Taiwan

Abstract: Generalisability of a learning organisation (LO) for cross-cultural applications is doubtful. Some cultural values may be opposed to the nature in a LO which calls for voluntary participation in learning activities by all employees. The study reveals a dynamic analysis of a LO with the sense of the difficulties organisations typically face and how strategies are applied when taking on a LO project in Asian contexts. The focus is on the preinstitutionalised period when there were emerging issues such as learning barriers and power struggling. A qualitative research distils the significant factors that contribute to a LO. The findings were TL solves the conflicts between Chinese 'face-saving' ways of communication and collective inquiry and communication in a LO, and TL brings a participative approach to the commitment of a LO. Further studies are required to investigate if TL still interrelates to produce an integrated LO intervention.

Keywords: team learning; learning organisations; participative learning; China; face-saving communication; organisational learning; culture; cultural perspective; learning barriers; power struggles.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLC.2015.074066

International Journal of Learning and Change, 2015 Vol.8 No.2, pp.178 - 191

Received: 04 Dec 2014
Accepted: 15 Jun 2015

Published online: 06 Jan 2016 *

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