Relationship between Learning Organization Characteristics and Organizational Readiness for Change

by

ABSTRACT

Change, as the only fixed element of time, is among the characteristics of today's quickly transforming world. As the need to change gets more and more apparent in societies, people and organizations discover that any kind of movement beyond the previous or present status involves learning. For organizations to increase their organizational capabilities, they should learn to act successfully in environment full of permanent integrations, quick developments of technology, wide social changes and cumulative competition. To become compatible with new changes, there should come into view an organization consistent with new conditions, i.e. the one that provides the ground for organizational growth and development. The most successful of these organizations since 1990s has been 'learning organizations'. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between learning organization characteristics and organizational readiness for change.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABSTRACTII

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1

Research Background1

Research Aims and Objectives1

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW2

Change2

What is Change Management3

Definition of Learning Organization3

Characteristics of Learning Organization4

READINESS TO CHANGE5

EMPLOYEE ATTITUDES5

ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING6

ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE6

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY7

Qualitative Research7

Quantitative Research7

CHAPTER 4: SAMPLE AND TOOLS8

CHAPTER 5: ETHICS9

REFERENCES10

APPENDIX14

Appendix A: Research Ethics Review for Research Project14

Appendix B: Consent form15

Appendix C: Interview Survey for managers or supervisors of the organisation16

Appendix D: Questionnaire Survey for employees of the organisation18

Appendix E: List of Figures25

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

Research Background

In the knowledge era, learning organizations are being emerged and knowledge is the key fuel for such organizations where knowledge management plays a critical role in learning more rapidly than the competitors, however, implementing knowledge management requires a number of steps to be taken.

Research Aims and Objectives

The objective of this research is to examine the relationship between learning organization characteristics and organizational readiness for change.

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW

Change

Following are some of the key factors accelerating change:

The emergence of more demanding customers - intense competition in most areas means that customers get better service, better quality and wider range of goods and services. To maintain competitiveness, the organization must offer the best service, quality, and be able to create new markets or to be able to penetrate them (Chan 2005, p. 747).

Globalization - the competition is worldwide, buyers are more likely to purchase any goods around the world. Goods and services move freely across the world, sources of supply have increased considerably (Chan 2005, p. 747).

Technology - information technology has a major impact on how goods are produced and services are provided as well as delivery of goods and services to market. In some industries internet has changed the definition of marketing.

Liability companies - any company is now present in the heart of the various types of liabilities. It is responsible not only before the law, owners and buyers but its duties are now much wider. Pressure groups with different interests, professional ethics, political and economic factors, industry standards and reputation of the industry - all this affects the behaviour of companies and their freedom of manoeuvre (Chan 2005, p. 747).

Staff - above all, has changed the organization's responsibility to its ...