Learning Orientations and Growth in Smaller Firms - Assignment Example

There are different types of organizational learning, according to Klimecki and Lassleben they identify two types the reactive orientation that is characterized by caution, aversion to risk taking and experimentation, the other type is proactive orientation that is based on future needs of the organization. However the distinction made in this study is passive orientation and active orientation, passive orientation is the lower level learning while the active orientation is the higher level learning.

Under the lower level learning scholars have identified single loop, adaptive and incremental levels of learning, while under the higher level learning we have double loop, generative and transformational levels of learning, The scale used in this study included the zero loops which meant no learning, the single loop which is similar to adaptive learning as identified as learning aimed at dealing with changes in a new and better way and finally the double loop similar to generative learning which moves beyond the adaptive learning and is aimed at building a different perspective for both the organization and individuals.

Data used was cross sectional and collection was done by mailing questionnaires and a total of 174 questionnaires were returned from the industrial and commercial manufacturers whereas 126 questionnaires were returned for the business services sector.According to the results for the machinery manufacturing centre there was a statistically significant of the correlation between learning orientation scores and high sales growth this is evident in that F= 4.15 P= 0.007 compared to lower learning orientation scores associated with higher sales growth F= 4.64 P = 0.004.

Therefore higher learning can be associated with high sales growth according to this research, firms should therefore adopt learning in order to enable them survive and grow, changes should be initiated in order to develop new skill and new ways of working. Learning should be aimed at improving the organizations current state and therefore should be both passive and active orientation.The mailed questionnaires may have been biased in that the respondent may overstate or overstate the scales, the best method would have been a face to face interview in order to rectify and avoid any biasness.

The sample selection would have been a random sample from a population obtained from the registration of firms other than a cross sectional sample.Strengths:The research considers the size of the firms as indicated by the number of workers and also considers the type of firm in the analysis of the relationship between growth of a firm and the level of learning. The research has contributed to organizational studies in that it demonstrates the importance of learning to an organization in terms of growth.

It is evident that the higher the level of learning the higher is the rate of sales growth. The research has strength in that it considers development of small firms which is in contrast to previous research that concentrated on the growth of large firms. It considers small firms in that they are the ones that require growing in future in order to increase job opportunities and avoid closing down in case of increased competition.