6. THE IMPUCAllONS OF SlIJDY
The results of the study question whether there is
one model for learning in organizations or whether,
depending on the typology of the organization, the
model will vary. The basic beliefs underpinning the
concept of the learning organization is that the organization
stands to benefit from allowing all the individuals
within it to learn and thus transmit that knowledge
to the organization. This leaming must be
apposite; whilst this model for knowledge transfer has
indicated that all learning is to be encouraged, the
transfer of knowledge must be of mutual benefit. This
model embodies the notion of mutual learning. The
first stages of knowledge acquisition and communication
include diffusion throughout the company of
both organizational knowledge and faith. This serves
to reinforce the basic core beliefs, practice and code
or language of the organization in addition to providing
a mechanism for provision of new knowledge
(Whyte, 1991; March, 1991). Using the feedback
mechanisms of behaviour influencing structure, the
organization is itself adapting to the beliefs of the
individuals within it. The process is continuous, it is
not conscious, it is part of the natural and spontaneous
process of belief and attitude formation that continues
throughout life; beliefs are reinforced or discarded
over time and from these attitudes develop (Ajzen,
1988). The organization undergoes a similar process.
Figure 7 illustrates the effect of organizational
learning on competitive performance, drawn from the
findings, as it applies to LPB. This process of learning
acts to affect competitive advantage; March (1991)
has shown that learning affects both the mean and
variance of competitive performance. Variability
affects relative position. To attain high position,
variability has a positive effect, whilst to prevent low
position variability has a detrimental effect. With the
model used here, variability equates with application
of developmental learning activities that are outside
the standard routines. Thus, to achieve primacy
amongst many competitors, developmental learning is
necessary. Learning processes such as those relating
to cultural diversity may offer increased performance
that offsets the variance associated with unfamiliarity.
Increasing familiarity reduces variance but retains
performance (March, 1991). This provokes the question of whether better than average performance can
be sustained without unconventional action, and
demands a fresh look at the concept of the learning
organization. LPB underwent a period of unconventional
learning, in the sense that this learning was outside
the bounds of the prior knowledge that the
organization was using. The result was considerable
increase in competitive performance. The company
has now become familiar with, but not complacent
about, the new learning, and the variance in performance
is being reduced. The creativity and diversity
came from only certain functions within the company;
it has not permeated through the organization (as confirmed
by the fieldwork) and it remains confined to
these groups. These arguments suggest that the company
has retained considerable control over behaviour,
optimizing performance outside the specific
groups to increase performance whilst retaining variance
in the specific groups; this contention is confirmed
in Fig. 7. It offers a revised model for successful
implementation of technology that might be more
appropriate for a highly routinized organization. The
company cannot maintain its existence with variation
of performance since it is bound by legislation; it cannot
maintain competitive primacy without variation.
The model offers an organizational process that
encourages creativity at some levels and not at others.
It provides these groups with sufficient power to
implement change. The model is dependent therefore
on the ability and creativity of the specific groups;
it can be self-perpetuating only if there is sufficient
knowledge generation and learning within these
groups, and it largely ignores the knowledge creation
and transfer of learning which is possible within the
substance of the company. The model does support
and explain how the company could achieve successful
implementation of new technology without assimilation
at all levels. Using this paradigm, the organizational
culture still maintains and countenances a
patriarchal aspect where it is not necessary for anything
more than acceptance to be achieved for the
majority of the company provided assimilation has
occurred at senior level.