Organizational Learning and Information-Communication Technologies – a Promising Link
V. Dimovski, M. Škerlavaj: Organizational Learning and Information-Communication... Zb. Rad. - Sveuè. u Rij., Ekon. fak., god. 22. Sv. 1 (2004), str. 7-19
Vlado Dimovski 1 Miha Škerlavaj 2
Original scientific paper UDK 37.018.4:004
ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING AND INFORMATION-COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES – A PROMISING LINK3
ABSTRACT Highly turbulent and competitive business environment has directed a focus of many researchers as well as practitioners on to the field of organizational learning as a way of gaining and sustaining competitive advantage. One of the most important issues is its relation to information-communication technologies. The purpose of this paper is to examine prior research and propose a model linking Organizational Learning construct (OL) to Information-communication technologies (ICT). Using structural equation modeling methodology, we tested this relationship based on the data from 220 questionnaires received from top managers of 867 Slovenian companies with more than 100 employees in the year 2003. Our research demonstrates statistically significant positive correlation between OL and ICT. Key words: Organizational learning, Information-communication technologies, Slovenian companies, Structural equation modeling.
1. Introduction Highly turbulent business environment requires modern businesses to rapidly adapt to change. In this context, a thorough understanding of the process of organizational learning is vital. Organizational learning has emerged as one of the most promising concepts in strategic management in late 1980s. As a premier researcher in the field of organizational learning stated: ”the ability to learn faster than your competitors may be the only sustainable competitive advantage” (De Geus, 1988). At the same time Information-communication technologies became almost ubiquitous and are seen as a
1 2 3
Associate professor of the Faculty of Economics University of Ljubljana Assistant of the Faculty of Economics
Vlado Dimovski 1 Miha Škerlavaj 2
Original scientific paper UDK 37.018.4:004
ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING AND INFORMATION-COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES – A PROMISING LINK3
ABSTRACT Highly turbulent and competitive business environment has directed a focus of many researchers as well as practitioners on to the field of organizational learning as a way of gaining and sustaining competitive advantage. One of the most important issues is its relation to information-communication technologies. The purpose of this paper is to examine prior research and propose a model linking Organizational Learning construct (OL) to Information-communication technologies (ICT). Using structural equation modeling methodology, we tested this relationship based on the data from 220 questionnaires received from top managers of 867 Slovenian companies with more than 100 employees in the year 2003. Our research demonstrates statistically significant positive correlation between OL and ICT. Key words: Organizational learning, Information-communication technologies, Slovenian companies, Structural equation modeling.
1. Introduction Highly turbulent business environment requires modern businesses to rapidly adapt to change. In this context, a thorough understanding of the process of organizational learning is vital. Organizational learning has emerged as one of the most promising concepts in strategic management in late 1980s. As a premier researcher in the field of organizational learning stated: ”the ability to learn faster than your competitors may be the only sustainable competitive advantage” (De Geus, 1988). At the same time Information-communication technologies became almost ubiquitous and are seen as a
1 2 3
Associate professor of the Faculty of Economics University of Ljubljana Assistant of the Faculty of Economics