Culture, organizational learning and selected employee background variables in smallsize business enterprises Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • PurposeThe purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between four independent variables educational level, longevity, type of enterprise, and gender and the dependent variable culture, as a dimension that explains organizational learning readiness in seven smallsize business enterprises.Design/methodology/approachAn exploratory correlational research design was employed to survey 498 employees in seven smallsize business enterprises in the Southern and midWestern United States.Findings Three pseudointerval variables (education, longevity, and type of enterprise) accounted for 15.3 percent of the variance in the dependent variable culture as a means to explain organizational learning readiness.Research limitations/implicationsGeneralizing results beyond the specific context of smallsize business enterprise may not be possible. Thus, the interpretations are limited to the seven smallsize business enterprises studied.Practical implicationsCertain types of enterprises form learning cultures conducive to organizational learning readiness more than do others. Also, seasoned employees may have developed a keen sense for detecting deficiencies within the learning infrastructure.Originality/valueThis study focused on variables not previously studied in smallsize business enterprises that explain organizational learning readiness. Thus, the results of this study will benefit the smallsize business entrepreneur interested in building a learning culture.

published proceedings

  • European Journal of Training and Development

author list (cited authors)

  • Graham, C. M., & Nafukho, F. M.

citation count

  • 27

complete list of authors

  • Graham, Carroll M||Nafukho, Fredrick Muyia

publication date

  • March 2007