Demonstrating the Value of an Organization's Learning Culture: The Dimensions of the Learning Organization Questionnaire

TLDR

Organizations aim to become learning organizations, yet implementation is elusive and often lacks research-based foundations, prompting the development of a 16‑year model drawing on literature and case studies. The study aimed to create and validate an instrument that diagnoses learning culture status, guides change, and enables comparison of learning with firm performance. The authors developed and validated a questionnaire instrument based on a 16‑year model of learning organization, integrating literature and case studies.

Abstract

The problem and the solution. Some organizations seek to become learning organizations. Yet, implementation is elusive and is not often based on research about what constitutes a learning culture. Over the past 16 years, a model of a learning organization was developed that draws on both the literature and organizational case studies. However, organizations wanted a way to diagnose their current status and guide change, and scholars wanted better measures of learning to compare organizations and to explore links between organizational learning and the performance of the firm. The solution was to develop and validate an instrument that addresses these needs.