Interorganizational Learning: The Central Role of Social Spaces and Learning Episodes

Abstract

Different organizational configurations have been gaining ground in the world economy, involving interorganizational relationships with different agents. This suggests the need for more studies that deal with interorganizational relations and their governance, including interorganizational learning (IOL), reinforcing the relevance of the theme, which is the focus of this chapter. Thus, we seek a greater understanding of the IOL as a dynamic process found in interorganizational cooperation. We work from a practice-based perspective because we believe that it can be an alternative to contribute to the advancement of studies on IOL. Therefore, the IOL is understood as part of an organizational learning continuum and is analyzed within the scope of practical rationality in a less cognitive and more socio-behavioral approach. We understand that the proposition of the six constitutive elements of the IOL allows a better understanding of the IOL process in different interorganizational relationships. Thus, the IOL was analyzed as a dynamic process that takes place in cooperative interorganizational relationships found in different structured and unstructured social spaces in everyday life, providing learning episodes. It is worth noting that governance in different types of interorganizational relationships can facilitate the IOL process.