The impact of contextual variables on learning organization in firms that are implementing lean: a study in Southern Brazil

Abstract

Lean manufacturing (LM) is an approach that comprises principles and management practices that aim to reduce waste and improve operational effectiveness throughout the entire value stream in continuous improvement endless journey. Due to that, the ability to innovate, change and learn continuously is a key element in the LM implementation. Several contextual variables were mentioned in the literature as possible barriers for LM implementation. However, little has been known about the influence of these variables on the dimensions of learning organization (LO). Thus, this paper aims to examine the relationship between six contextual variables and the occurrence frequency of LO problems in companies that are implementing LM. Moreover, the identification of relevant relationships between dimensions of LO and contextual variables may contribute to specify the contexts in which problems are expected to occur. The study sample comprises 13 companies already undergoing LM implementation. The results indicate that the same contextual variables, which are deemed as influential for implementing LM, have a different relationship with the organizational learning capability.