The Topicality of the Learning Organization: is the Concept Still Relevant Today?

Abstract

This chapter introduces the current level of interest in the learning organization and usefulness of the concept at the present time. It reviews authors who have recently and explicitly commented on the topicality of the learning organization, offers a qualitative content analysis of recent journal publications on learning organizations justifying the need for the concept, and uses quantitative research using print media indicators and Google Trends to identify the number of publications related to the learning organization over time. The results suggest that while the level of interest in the learning organization among scientific researchers has grown, the level of interest among casual researchers has declined. There is also relatively more interest in the concept outside of the United States and among healthcare and education organizations. The justifications for the usefulness of the concept today are mainly based on its role in improving organizational culture, performance, and innovation capacity.