Learning from experiments: exploring how short time-boxed experiments can contribute to organizational learning
ISSN: 1366-5626
Article publication date: 12 December 2023
Issue publication date: 17 January 2024
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this paper is to explore how the involvement of workplace teams in experimenting with changes in their work practices through short, time-boxed, experiments (STBEs) can support organizational learning. It is explored how staffs’ experiences with experimental practices give rise to shared knowledge and how this is supported by the design of the STBE-procedure. Also explored is how the STBEs support knowledge retainment.
Design/methodology/approach
The study builds on the authors’ participation in a research and development project across seven financial enterprises in Denmark. Qualitative material was developed as part of the experiments. Theoretically emphasizing experience, knowledge creation through dialogue and knowledge retention, the material was analyzed, focusing on participants’ experiences and interactions, as well as on procedures.
Findings
The STBEs occasioned direct experience with new work practices for managers and employees. Supported by the STBE-procedure, these experiences generated new knowledge individually, collectively and on an organizational level. The procedure also created routines that can underpin the retainment of the new practices and knowledge related to incorporating it in the organization.
Research limitations/implications
The study implicates experience with changes in work practices to be understood as predominantly mindful in opposition to simple, even when the changes appear to be simple.
Practical implications
The STBEs are applicable when working with organizational learning related to new work practices. Procedures supporting dialogue and mindful processes appear to be advantageous in relation to learning from experiments.
Originality/value
Based on an original research and development project and unique qualitative material, the study adds to discussions on how to best conduct and learn from experiments in organizations.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the participating case departments. Without you the studied experiments could never have been performed. Moreover, a warm thank you for close collaboration in developing the STBE procedure and individual experiments to the project leader Signe Bjørg Lyck and consultants in the Future Work Lab project: David Karstensen, Pia Hauge, Søren Skaarup, Anders Raastrup Kristensen and Eva Bjerrum. Finally, thank you to Finansforbundet (trade union) for initiating the Future Work Lab research and development project, to Forsikringsforbundet (trade union) and the Danish Employers’ Association for the Financial Sector to engage in the application, and to the Velliv Association for funding the project. These parties, as well as independent researcher Malene Friis Andersen, have followed the project through a reference group but has not influenced the research on the project.
Citation
Grosen, S.L. and Edwards, K. (2024), "Learning from experiments: exploring how short time-boxed experiments can contribute to organizational learning", Journal of Workplace Learning, Vol. 36 No. 1, pp. 96-112. https://doi.org/10.1108/JWL-08-2023-0138
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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