Organizational learning in context of part-time employment

• Published in: International journal of organizational analysis (2005) Vol. 24; no. 4; pp. 650 - 672
• Main Authors: Kivipõld, Kurmet, Hoffman, Richard C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bingley Emerald Group Publishing Limited 05.09.2016
• Subjects: Attitudes; Behavior; Employee turnover; Employees; Employment; Flexibility; Intrapreneurs; Job satisfaction; Knowledge; Learning; Managers; Objectives; Organizational learning; Part time employment; Perceptions; Personality; Personality traits; Transition economies; Europe; Leadership; Part-time employment; Organizational learning; Entrepreneurship; Organizational leadership; Estonia
• ISSN: 1934-8835; 1758-8561
• DOI: 10.1108/IJOA-06-2014-0779

Purpose Combining trends in employment flexibility, organizational learning, need for improved leadership and entrepreneurship is important in managing today’s organizations. This study aims to explore these relationships within a single media firm in one of the Baltic States. Design/methodology/approach The subject for this exploratory case study is a small Estonian media company having a total of 43 members/employees. Data for the study were collected using two questionnaires (organizational leadership capability and dimensions of learning organizations) and by in-depth interviews. Assessment and analysis of the data included: measurement of organizational leadership (OL) and learning organization; measurement of entrepreneurial behavior; and analysis of the results gained from studying the issues pertaining to OL, learning organization and entrepreneurial behavior. Findings The results of this study reveal that part-time versus full-time employees have more positive attitudes toward the organization’s decentralized leadership and of six of seven learning characteristics. It appears that the entrepreneurial orientation of the part-time employees (PTEs) helps explain the differences observed. Practical implications The implications for practice based on this study is that firms should consider their PTEs as a valuable asset not only because of the flexibility they offer to the workforce but also because of the special skills and outlooks they bring to the organization. Originality/value This paper explores the relationships among organizational learning, OL and entrepreneurship in context of part-time employment.