What is the Difference Between Organizational Learning and Learning Organization?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚Organizational learning and learning organizations are related but distinct concepts. Here are the main differences between the two:
Organizational Learning:
- Organizational learning is the process of creating, retaining, and transferring knowledge within an organization.
- It involves the organization improving over time as it gains experience and creates knowledge.
- Knowledge is created at four different units: individual, group, organizational, and inter-organizational.
- Organizational learning is an aspect of organizations and a subfield of organizational studies.
Learning Organization:
- A learning organization is characterized by a strong learning culture, which involves psychological safety, appreciation of differences, openness to new ideas, and time for reflection.
- It promotes concrete learning processes and practices, such as experimentation, information collection and analysis, and education and training.
- Leadership in a learning organization reinforces learning.
In summary, organizational learning focuses on the process of creating, retaining, and transferring knowledge within an organization, while a learning organization is one that fosters a culture of continuous learning and improvement. Both concepts emphasize the importance of knowledge creation and sharing, but a learning organization goes a step further by creating an environment that actively encourages and supports learning.
Comparative Table: Organizational Learning vs Learning Organization
The following table summarizes the differences between organizational learning and a learning organization:
| Aspect | Organizational Learning | Learning Organization |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Organizational learning refers to the process by which an organization acquires, interprets, codifies, stores, retrieves, and transmits information and experiences. | A learning organization is a structure that facilitates the development of its employees' skills, capacity, and competencies through aspects like knowledge sharing, capacity building, and training. |
| Focus | Organizational learning is centered on the process of learning and the improvement of organizational performance. | A learning organization focuses on creating a culture and environment that fosters learning and development among its employees. |
| Managerial Role | In organizations with organizational learning, managers play a role in facilitating the learning process and ensuring that the organization adapts to changes in its environment. | In learning organizations, managers are responsible for developing their subordinates and promoting a culture of learning. |
| Perspective | Organizational learning is analyzed from a more descriptive perspective, examining how learning processes contribute to the improvement of organizational performance. | The learning organization is approached from a more prescriptive perspective, linking learning to improvement and focusing on creating an environment that supports learning. |
| Theoretical Background | Organizational learning is based on theories that analyze how organizations learn from their experiences and adapt to changes in their environment. | The learning organization concept is built on theories that emphasize the importance of creating a culture and structure that facilitates learning and development among employees. |
In summary, organizational learning is a process that focuses on the improvement of organizational performance through the acquisition, interpretation, and transmission of information and experiences. In contrast, a learning organization is a structure that fosters a culture and environment that supports the development of its employees' skills and competencies.
- Institution vs Organization
- Organizational Development vs Organizational Transformation
- Training vs Learning
- Association vs Organization
- Learning vs Development
- Teaching vs Learning
- Education vs Learning
- Organization vs Firm
- Line Organization vs Functional Organization
- Formal vs Informal Organization
- Organizational Culture vs Climate
- Learning vs Performance
- Instructional Objectives vs Learning Objectives
- Organ vs Organelle
- Organ vs Organelle
- Learning vs Acquisition
- Maturation vs Learning
- Job Involvement vs Organizational Commitment
- Associative vs Cognitive Learning