Sustainable organisational learning in sustainable companies
Purpose The purpose of this study is to extend the knowledge on sustainable organisational learning (OL) in sustainable companies. Design/methodology/approach Sustainability is examined from an OL perspective and was based on Edward’s integral cycle of learning. An in-depth analysis of the literatur...
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Published in | The learning organization Vol. 28; no. 1; pp. 15 - 31 |
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Main Authors | , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
Bradford
Emerald Publishing Limited
13.05.2021
Emerald Group Publishing Limited |
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Purpose
The purpose of this study is to extend the knowledge on sustainable organisational learning (OL) in sustainable companies.
Design/methodology/approach
Sustainability is examined from an OL perspective and was based on Edward’s integral cycle of learning. An in-depth analysis of the literature was carried out, and a list of OL characteristics, such as openness to new ideas and participative policymaking, were compiled. To identify which OL characteristics are used for sustainability, a multiple-case study was designed for sustainable companies operating in the food and beverage industry.
Findings
This study found a wide variety of sustainable practices, such as experimentation and information-sharing systems, related to learning processes, and learning leadership appears to be the least developed dimension. It was also found that sustainable companies learn through social rather than reflective learning, in relationships with internal and external stakeholders, and by concrete actions to implement environmental and social impacts.
Originality/value
This study is one of a few that explore sustainable OL and contributes to categorising OL characteristics that sustainable companies use to facilitate and support sustainability in the mid–long term. |
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ISSN: | 0969-6474 1758-7905 |
DOI: | 10.1108/TLO-05-2019-0074 |