Knowledge management and the learning organisation in the new economy

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In the literature on organisational learning and specifically the concept of a learningorganisation, an integrated approach towards the learning organisation appears to be lacking.The thesis is an effort to correct this by integrating the organisational aspects namelystrategy, structure and processes into a coherent model of the learning organisation.For this purpose, the thesis is divided into two parts. The first part is a theoretical evaluationof Peter Senge's concept of the learning organisation, and Nonaka and Takeuchi's model ofthe Knowledge Creating Company. These models were evaluated to determine the degree towhich these models incorporate strategy, structure and processes. In an effort to make senseof the learning organisation concept within the framework of the knowledge era, otherinfluences such as Peter Drucker on the Post-Capitalist Society and Thomas A Stewart onhow to manage Intellectual Capital in the new economy, were incorporated. In addition, thebasic building blocks of existing theories of the learning organisation were considered inorder to develop appreciation for their contribution and influence towards a model of thelearning organisation.The second part of this thesis endeavoured to build a notional model for the learningorganisation. This notional model is considered necessary in order to develop anappreciation for how matters such as structure, strategy and processes can interact and cooperatetowards an integrated model of the learning organisation.In conclusion, a number of factors of organisation were identified as probable principles oforganisation in the knowledge economy.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University