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Exploring Organizational Learning Mechanisms in Small‐Size Business Enterprises
Author(s) -
Graham Carroll M.,
Nafukho Fredrick M.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
new horizons in adult education and human resource development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1939-4225
DOI - 10.1002/nha3.10296
Subject(s) - organizational learning , psychology , exploratory research , small business , organizational culture , knowledge management , organizational performance , business , marketing , management , sociology , computer science , economics , social science
The primary purpose of this study was to determine the importance of existing organizational learning mechanisms and establish the size and magnitude of the relationship among the organizational learning mechanisms. Of great import also was to determine whether statistically significant relationships existed among the organizational learning mechanisms. An exploratory correlational research design was utilized to survey 498 employees from seven small‐size business enterprises located in the Southern and Mid‐Western United States. Mean scores indicated that respondents perceived leadership and evaluative inquiry as the prevalent learning mechanisms within the organizations studied. According to the findings, certain types of small‐size business enterprises exhibit organizational learning characteristics more so than do others involved in the study. The results of the correlation analysis showed that the learning mechanisms leadership and culture had the highest level of association, followed by culture and systems and structures.