Louisiana State University LSU Digital Commons LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses Graduate School 2000 Mapping the Learning Organization: Exploring a Model of Organizational Learning. Sandra grin Mae Kaiser Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses Recommended Citation Kaiser, Sandra grin Mae, "Mapping the Learning Organization: Exploring a Model of Organizational Learning." (2000). LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses. 7203. https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses/7203 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at LSU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses by an authorized administrator of LSU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. INFORMATION TO USERS This manuscript has been reproduced from the microfilm master. 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Higher quality 6" x 9” black and white photographic prints are available for any photographs or illustrations appearing in this copy for an additional charge. Contact UMI directly to order. Bell & Howell Information and Learning 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 USA 800-521-0600 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. MAPPING THE LEARNING ORGANIZATION: EXPLORING A MODEL OF ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in The School of Vocational Education By Sandra M. Kaiser B.S., Daemen College, 1966 M.A., Kean University, 1984 M.A., Louisiana State University, 1989 May 2000 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMI Number 9979267 UMI UMI Microform9979267 Copyright 2000 by Bell & Howell Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. Bell & Howell Information and Learning Company 300 North Zeeb Road P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. DEDICATION This dissertation is dedicated to the memory of Paul Pierre and Dorothy M. Grin, my parents, my guides in life, and my beloved friends. ii Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS DEDICATION.......................................................................................... ii LIST OF TABLES...................................................................................ix LIST OF FIGURES................................................................................xi ABSTRACT.......................................................................................... j<ii CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION.............................................................. 1 Foundation Theory ...................................................................... 9 Construct Measurement ............................................................ 12 Performance Relationship .......................................................... 15 Problem Statement ................................................................... 17 Purpose of the Study ...................................................................19 Research Hypotheses ................................................................. 19 Limitations ...................................................................................2 4 CHAPTER II: LITERATURE REVIEW................................................ 25 Organizational Change ...............................................................25 Environmental Forces ..................................................... 26 Organic Forces .............................................................. 26 Socio-political Forces .................................................... 28 Learning In Organizations .......................................................... 29 Harnessing Change ......................................................... 29 Organizational Learning ............................................................ 31 Definition of Organizational Learning ............................. 31 Learning Processes .................................................................... 34 Information Acquisition .................................................... 34 Information Distribution and Interpretation .....................35 Organizational Memory ................................................... 36 Early Thoughts on Organizational Learning ..............................37 Learning Organization ................................................................ 39 Senge’s Foundation Theory ............................................39 Senge’s Five Disciplines .............................................................41 Personal Mastery .............................................................41 Mental Models .................................................................. 42 Shared Vision ...................................................................43 Team Learning ................................................................. 44 Systems Thinking ............................................................ 46 Learning Organization Strategies .............................................. 47 Climate ............................................................................. 48 Leadership ....................................................................... 48 Human Resources Practices ................. ,49 Organizational Mission .................................................... 49 iii Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. 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Teams................................................................................49 Culture............................................................................... 60 More Learning Organization Theories ....................................... 51 Definitions and Conceptualizations .................................52 Comparison of Learning Organization Theories ....................... 53 Continuous Learning ........................................................54 Inquiry and Dialogue ........................................................ 56 Team Learning ................................................................. 57 Organizational Systems for Learning ..............................59 Empowerment Toward a Collective Vision .................... 60 The Organization and Its Environment ........................... 61 Learning Perspectives Reviewed ............................................... 62 Need for Organizational Learning .............................................. 66 Learning and Performance .............................................. 66 Need for Empirical Research .......................................... 67 Defining Performance in Organizations ......................... 68 Learning and Innovation .................................................. 69 Explaining Learning and Performance ........................... 71 Burke-Litwin Model of Organizational Development .................72 Transformational Variables ..............................................78 Environment ......................................................... 78 Mission and Strategy: defining organizational purpose ...............................................................79 Culture................................................................... 81 Leadership .............................................................85 Transactional Variables ................................................... 92 Management Practices .........................................92 Structure................................................................ 96 Systems ................................................................. 99 Clim ate ................................................................... 103 Motivation. ~ .....................................................108 Performance .......................................................... 110 CHAPTER 4II: METHODOLOGY.........................................................