Organisational Learning and Change

This assignment discusses the barriers and issues in organisational learning, focusing on the case of Rowlinson Knitwear. It explores strategies to improve organisational learning, such as building relationships, communicating clear vision, creating a learning environment, and eliminating extra costs. By implementing these strategies, the company can overcome barriers and enhance its learning and growth.

ORGANISATIONAL
LEARNING AND
CHANGE

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
Key barriers and issues in organisational learning in context with selected organisation..........1
Mention various strategies which can be adopted by a company to improve their
organisational learning ...............................................................................................................2
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................4
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................5

INTRODUCTION
Organisational learning is the procedure to retain, create and transfer knowledge within a
business firm so that employees can perform their activities in an efficient manner. With the help
of organisational learning, working potential of employees can be improved due to which
attainment of organisational goals and targets will be easy (Antonacopoulou, Ropo and Taylor,
2019). If a company will not support organisational learning, attainment of targets in a timely
manner will not be possible. This assignment is based on Rowlinson Knitwear which is a UK
based manufacturer operating at medium level. This company provides corporate wear and
school wear to their customers in genuine rates. This report will discuss about different barriers
that can be faced by an organisation in appropriate learning . Other than this, various strategies
to improve learning at organisation in an effective is also discussed.
MAIN BODY
Key barriers and issues in organisational learning in context with selected organisation
Rowlinson Knitwear is a medium sized organisation which deals in clothing sector. As
company is performing at medium level, it is important for employees of concerned company to
carry out organisational learning on regular basis so that they can enhance their reputation and
success in market. There are multiple barriers which are faced by a business firm while carrying
out organisational learning. These barriers will reduce the effectiveness of organisational
learning due to which attainment of expected goals and profits will not be possible. There are
various issues which acts as a big barrier in the organisational learning of Rowlinson Knitwear.
Some of these barriers are mentioned below:
Stubbornness and resistance of employees: This is considered as one of the main
barrier in organisational learning. Employees which are working in a business firm for a long
time do not prefer to learn and incorporate new knowledge as it disrupts their working pattern.
To work in a comfortable manner, employees in Rowlinson Knitwear avoid organisational
learning without realising their numerous benefits (Boer and et. al., 2017). Lack of leadership:
Manager and leader in an organisation plays an important role in organisational learning. It is the
responsibility of manager in a company to guide their employees so that they can learn new
information and knowledge in a proper manner. But, in some situations, manager of company is
not competent and skilled due to which guiding employees to learn concepts is not possible.
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Short term focus: In every organisation, employees are concerned about accomplishing their
work without having any long term visions. Due to this short term focus, learning skills of
employees remain intact and they do not prefer to learn new ideas and ways to perform work. In
case of Rowlinson Knitwear, workers have short term focus i.e. accomplishing weekly targets
due to which they do not prefer to invest their time in learning new tactics and methods to
perform work which can results in long term benefits. This is one of the important reason due to
which concerned company is lacking in adopting organisational learning in an efficient manner
(Dahlgaard And et. al., 2019).
No motivation for growth: This is one of the most challenging barrier for learning in an
organisation. If employees and employers will not have any encouragement and motivation
towards change then it is not possible for a business firm to learn skills and knowledge in an
appropriate manner. In order to increase learning at Rowlinson Knitwear, it is important for
workforce of company to feel motivated towards change (Waddell, 2017). This will help the
manager of company to train them about organisational learning in a proper manner without
facing any complexities. Limited resources: In order to carrying out organisational learning at
workplace, a company requires different kind of resources like funds, skilled employees which
can train other employees, appropriate technology etc. Arranging all the resources in a proper
manner on regular basis is difficult for a small firm (Deakin and Hoel, 2016). Due to this, limited
resources is one of the biggest barrier in carrying out organisational learning at concerned
company.
Mention various strategies which can be adopted by a company to improve their organisational
learning
As we know that there are different kind of issues which acts as a barrier in the learning
at an organisation. These issues impacts the learning behaviour of employees due to which their
working potential remain same and they are not able to attain growth at both personal and
professional level. Also, due to incompetency of employees, organisation is not able to attain
their goals and targets in a proper manner. Above mentioned barriers to organisational learning
are faced by Rowlinson Knitwear (Dickson and et. al., 2019). In order to overcome these
barriers, it is important for the manager of company to adopt and implement some strategies so
that these barriers can be overcome in a proper manner. In this context, some of the strategies
and methods to resolve issues in organisational learning are stated here. One of them is Building
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relationships among employers and employees: This is the best way by which the barriers in
organisational learning can be resolved in a proper manner. Employers and employees of a
company are the main constituents which run an organisation. If they will have strong bond with
each other, barriers like lack of motivation and resistance to change can be overcome in a proper
manner. Also, if employers and employees will work in coordination,they will be able to help
each other in learning new concepts in a simplified manner (Duffield and Whitty, 2015).
Communicating clear vision behind organisational learning: In order to overcome the
barriers like no motivation among employees to learn new concepts, it is important for the
business owner and manager of a company to communicate appropriate vision of company
behind this. In case of Rowlinson Knitwear, if manager of the company will tell employees of
the company about the benefits and needs of organisational learning in a proper manner like
increment in career growth, monetary benefits, high profits etc., they will be more interested in
learning new ideas and tactics to perform work. Creation of learning environment: This is
another important method or strategy by which issues and barriers in effective learning
environment can be resolved. By implementing a learning atmosphere at workplace, attention of
employees can be gained in a proper manner. In this context, manager of a company can hold
seminars, meetings and presentation sessions on regular basis where professionals and expertise
individuals can tell the benefits which they have gained by improving their organisational
learning as per changing needs (Duffield and Whitty, 2016). This will motivate the employees
to learn new tactics to improve their working potential while performing business operations.
Eliminating extra costs: One of the main reason due to which Rowlinson Knitwear is
not able to carry out organisational learning is lack of appropriate resources. Main aspect behind
it is shortage of money due to which arrange of required materials and resources is not possible.
Manager of company can arrange required funds by cutting their extra costs and eliminating
wastage of resources (Vivas-López, Peris-Ortiz and Oltra, 2015). By this, operational and
production cost of company will be reduced and high profits will be earned by company (Junior
And et. al., 2018). A part of these profits can be invest by the company in organisational learning
so that employees can enhance their working skills properly. All of these strategies will benefits
a company in solving the barriers to workplace learning. This will help the concerned company
in earning high profits and revenues due to which achievement of targets and objectives will be
easier.
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CONCLUSION
As per this given report, it can be concluded that there are various kinds of barriers which
can restricts organisational learning in a business firm. Some of these barriers are lack of
motivation in staff, resistance and stubbornness towards change, shortage of funds, lack in the
leadership of employers etc. All of these reasons, impacts the learning ability and working
potential of employees in a negative manner. To overcome, these issues and barriers, manager of
a company can adopt different kind of strategies such as sustaining a strong bond between
employees and employers, formulating an appropriate learning environment, communication of
clear visions to the workers etc. by this, learning activities will be implemented in a proper
manner and overall working potential of employees will be raised.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Antonacopoulou, E. P., Ropo, A. and Taylor, S. S., 2019. Arts-Based Interventions for Sensuous
Organisational Learning: Extensions and Possibilities. In Sensuous Learning for
Practical Judgment in Professional Practice (pp. 335-348). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
Boer, H. and et. al., 2017. CI Changes from Suggestion Box to Organisational Learning:
Continuous Improvement in Europe and Australia: Continuous Improvement in Europe
and Australia. Routledge.
Dahlgaard, J. J. And et. al., 2019. Evolution and future of total quality management:
management control and organisational learning. Total Quality Management & Business
Excellence. 30(sup1), pp.S1-S16.
Deakin, R. and Hoel, H., 2016. Workplace Mediation, Transformation and Feedback Loops: An
Organisational Learning Approach. In Academy of Management Proceedings(Vol. 2016,
No. 1, p. 11422). Briarcliff Manor, NY 10510: Academy of Management.
Dickson, K. and et. al., 2019. Achieving organisational learning in natural resource management.
Community-based Control of Invasive Species.
Duffield, S. and Whitty, S. J., 2015. Developing a systemic lessons learned knowledge model for
organisational learning through projects. International journal of project management.
33(2). pp.311-324.
Duffield, S. M. and Whitty, S. J., 2016. Application of the systemic lessons learned knowledge
model for organisational learning through projects. International journal of project
management. 34(7). pp.1280-1293.
Junior, F.A.C. And et. al., 2018. Knowledge management, learning, social attitudes and
organisational change in a Brazilian public organisation. International Journal of
Innovation and Learning. 24(1). pp.62-80.
Vivas-López, S., Peris-Ortiz, M. and Oltra, V., 2015. Facilitating organisational learning through
teamwork-based knowledge management: evidence from Spain. International Journal of
Innovation and Learning. 18(1). pp.65-80.
Waddell, S., 2017. Societal learning and change: How governments, business and civil society
are creating solutions to complex multi-stakeholder problems. Routledge.
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