The role of higher education institutions in facilitating organization learning: with HRD managers

Abstract

The paper introduces an approach to strategic management where organizational strategies when supported by learning are considered to have emergent qualities. A literature review considers organizational learning and a conceptualization is presented. The role of higher education in enabling postgraduate, human resource development managers to be introduced to these approaches and concepts through a role-play activity is examined. Reflections on this activity conclude that the process provides an opportunity for these part-time students to experience and reflect on the organizational learning concept, thus to understand it, and to enable them simultaneously to have the opportunity to consider their own approaches to learning. The insights resulting from the roleplay, it is argued, will enable these managers, with the experience of one model which may be replicated in their own organizations in order to engage individuals with the notion of organizational learning and to help in enabling others to learn through experiential learning.