Journal of Workplace Learning

Learning climate and work group skills in care work : Table of Contents

Kristina Westerberg, Esther Hauer — Sat Oct 24 08:00:20 BST 2009

Abstract:
Purpose – The overall aim of the present study was to investigate the learning climate and work group skills perceived by managers and their subordinates in the municipal elderly care, prior to a development project. The specific research questions were: Are managers' and their subordinates' perceptions of the learning climate related? and Does the manager's assessment of the work group skills correlate with the work group's perception of the learning climate? Design/methodology/approach – A total of 12 managers and 130 of their subordinates were selected, and answered a questionnaire. The subordinates belonged to work groups with five to 19 care assistants working in elderly care. The majority of the participants were women (92 per cent). The mean age was 43 years old, range 20-63. Findings – Results suggest that the perception of the learning climate has a correspondence between the organisational levels (managers and their subordinates) and that there is a correspondence between managers' ratings of work group skills, in particular skills for effectively managing change, and the work groups' perception of their learning climate, in particular decision autonomy and developmental and collaborative potentials. Research implications/limitations – The manager sample was small and from one single organisation. Practical implications – The relations between the learning climate and the assessment of staff skills are important to the actions taken in order to facilitate workplace learning and development. Originality/value – This study contrasted the managers' assessment of skills with their work groups' perceptions of learning climate, which is quite unusual in learning climate studies.

Intersection of trajectories: a newcomer in a community of practice : Table of Contents

Matthew Campbell, Irina Verenikina, Anthony Herrington — Sat Oct 24 08:00:20 BST 2009

Abstract:
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a case study of a newcomer to the practice of policing to explore conceptualisations of learning through practice. It aims to position learning as the intersections of trajectories of being and becoming within a community of practice. The paper seeks to argue that learners need to be understood with respect to their personal histories and how these interact with the social and cultural dimensions of the workplace. Design/methodology/approach – This paper is a case study of a new police officer with data collected through a series of interviews and observations over a two-year period. Findings – The case study presented demonstrates the relationship between prior experience, personal histories, participation and a sense of belonging in shaping the learning of early-career police officers. It suggests that in considering newcomers to the workplace it is important to view the process of learning as being influence by these interconnected factors. Research limitations/implications – This study concludes that the position of the individual in the social learning of a community of practice is an important aspect that needs further exploration. Although the significance of learner identity with communities of practice is acknowledged by Lave and Wenger it remains underdeveloped, and continues to present as an area for further research. Practical implications – Trajectories of learning for newcomers to the workplace are affected by their previous social and cultural experiences and expertise, the association that they bring from these to the new community and participation in practices of the community. There exists, therefore, a role for managers in shaping the organisation to be supportive of these informal learning experience and, thus, the selection and training of managers should be aligned to these goals. Originality/value – This paper extends current understandings of learning and development in the policing context as well as contributing to the broader discussion of informal learning in the workplace and understanding of experts and novices within communities of practice.

Exploring the best HRM practices-performance relationship: an empirical approach : Table of Contents

George N. Theriou, Prodromos D. Chatzoglou — Sat Oct 24 08:00:20 BST 2009

Abstract:
Purpose – This paper aims to empirically examine the linkages between best human resource (HRM) practices, knowledge management, organisational learning, organisational capabilities and organisational performance. The proposed framework and findings intend to add to the understanding of the specific processes that mediate between best HRM practices and organisational performance. Design/methodology/approach – To carry out this research a survey research strategy was followed. The sample frame for this study consisted of Greek firms that belong to the tertiary (services and commerce) sector, employing at least 50 employees. The final research sample consisted of 242 questionnaires. Descriptive statistics as well as structural equation modelling (SEM) techniques were used to analyse the data. Findings – This paper proposes an answer to “how” best HRM practices can influence performance. Results indicate that service and commercial firms pursuing best HRM practices achieve better performance through the interaction of these practices with knowledge management and organisational learning capability and the creation of organisational capabilities. Research limitations/implications – Possible limitations of the study include the relatively small sample size, the use of subjective performance indicators and the measurement of organisational capabilities. Practical implications – The paper can help human resource practitioners and/or managers to understand better the importance of organisational learning and knowledge management processes and the way best HRM practices, through the integration of these two processes, lead to superior and sustainable performance. Originality/value – This paper attempts to shed some light on the processes through which human resource management practices influence performance. Moreover, the value of the human factor in knowledge management and organisational learning initiatives, as well as on organisational capabilities, is explored. While this has already been underlined in the past, there is still no complete model simultaneously describing and testing all those relationships.

Social interaction and the formation of entrepreneurial characteristics: A case study in authentic enterprise activity : Table of Contents

Christina W.M. Yu, Thomas W.Y. Man — Sat Oct 24 08:00:20 BST 2009

Abstract:
Purpose – This paper is an empirical study which aims to investigate the development of social interaction and their impacts on developing learners' entrepreneurial characteristics throughout their participation in an authentic enterprise activity. Design/methodology/approach – The sample of this study was drawn from the participants of an enterprise activity called the Teen Entrepreneurs Competition for the high school students in Hong Kong. With the use of a mixed approach involving both qualitative and quantitative methods for data collection and analysis, the development and impacts of social interaction of the participants were investigated during their venturing process in the competition. Findings – The findings showed that the participants' entrepreneurial characteristics would be developed and enhanced through the four key types of social interaction, including the interaction with team members, instructors, schoolteachers and business stakeholders. However, the impact of social interaction was more direct on the development of task-oriented entrepreneurial characteristics, but less direct on the conceptual-oriented entrepreneurial characteristics. Research limitations/implications – This study provides useful insights into making a good use of social interaction in authentic enterprise education activities. Further studies can be conducted on studying the change in attitude towards entrepreneurship and the impacts of such change on the developing of entrepreneurial characteristics through social interaction in enterprise education. Practical implications – It is recommended that enterprise programmes and activities should be maximised with participants' social interaction opportunities particularly with business practitioners and opportunities provided for participants to reflect on their social interaction from time to time in order to achieve better learning outcomes. Originality/value – The results complement the existing literature on enterprise education by extending the current focus on the experiential aspect towards the interactive aspect during the learning process.

Internet gambling in the workplace : Table of Contents

Mark Griffiths — Sat Oct 24 08:00:20 BST 2009

Abstract:
Purpose – This paper seeks to overview the issues, concerns and challenges relating to gambling – and more specifically internet gambling – in the workplace. Design/methodology/approach – Using psychological literature, this paper outlines a number of important and inter-related areas including brief overviews of gambling and problem gambling, internet gambling, social impact of internet gambling, types of gambling in the workplace and associated issues, and the effects of gambling in the workplace. Findings – The paper reveals that issues surrounding gambling and internet gambling in the workplace are a neglected but important area for employers and employees. Research limitations/implications – The empirical base for the paper was based on a small number of peer-reviewed papers. Practical implications – Using the findings of the psychological literature, guidelines for managers on the issue of gambling and internet gambling in the workplace are presented. Originality/value – Research on internet gambling is sparse and there is almost nothing in the literature concerning implications of internet gambling in the workplace.