Facilitating expansive learning in a public sector organization

Abstract

The aim of this article is to discuss how learning opportunities can be organized to promote expansive learning in work practice. The discussion draws on results from a case study examining local development work and conditions that facilitate processes of expansive learning in a work team within a public sector organization in a Swedish municipality. An interactive research design was used. Data were collected over almost four years through individual and group interviews with 12 workers in a work team and their three managers. In addition data were collected through observations of team meetings. The findings demonstrate that work can be organized as a learning environment to facilitate expansive learning even in a resource-limited public sector organization. Furthermore, patterns of expansive learning were evident in the work team's new work activities and new relationships in the organization. The findings also demonstrate the need to support managers in developing a role to facilitate expansive learning. However, the need for and extent of external support for promoting expansive learning in practice vary in different situations and stages during the development work.