Between product development and mass production: Tensions as triggers for concept-level learning
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to analyze learning in organizational transformations by focusing on concept-level tensions faced in two young companies, which were searching for a reorientation of activity with a production network between innovative product development and efficient mass production.
Design/methodology/approach
An intervention-based research project was carried out with two manufacturing companies. The data originate from workshops, whose aim was to identify learning needs based on the discussion of practices of networked production. Concept-level learning is analyzed by examining the dynamic relationships between production concepts and product concepts.
Findings
The most influential concept-level tension stemmed from the co-existence of two production concepts, product development and mass production, which manifested as ambiguity about proper actions in the production network. Other focal tensions were identified between the production and product concepts and within the companies’ network relationships. The dominance of the mass production concept restricted the envisioning of new modes of collaboration and mutual learning in the production network.
Research limitations/implications
The workshop participants did not include representatives from the case companies’ production network. Nevertheless, researchers brought the network partners’ conceptions into the workshop discussion through the presented mirror data.
Practical implications
Companies striving to develop novel production concepts that call for continuous collaboration with customers and suppliers need forums for mutual learning to create solutions to concept-level tensions.
Originality/value
Companies may develop two production concepts over lengthy periods. The tensions that manifest due to incoherent guiding logics may be overcome by engaging in incremental and expansive concept-level learning, directed at the identification of relationships between production and product concepts.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The article is based on a research project that received funding from Tekes (the Finnish Funding Agency for Innovation) “Concepts of Operations” program; the financial contribution of Tekes and the participating companies is acknowledged with gratitude. The authors thank the participating companies, the steering group and the Tekes senior advisers for their collaboration. The authors acknowledge the contribution of Matti Vartiainen and Hannele Kerosuo as well as the anonymous reviewers of the journal in the development of the article.
Citation
Jalonen, M., Ristimäki, P., Toiviainen, H., Pulkkis, A. and Lohtander, M. (2016), "Between product development and mass production: Tensions as triggers for concept-level learning", Journal of Workplace Learning, Vol. 28 No. 1, pp. 33-48. https://doi.org/10.1108/JWL-04-2014-0027
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2016, Emerald Group Publishing Limited