Openness’ and Organizational Factors’ Effects on Learning Behavior

Meng shan Tsai

Abstract


This study investigates the influence of openness, collaborative culture, and organizational climate on learning behavior (i.e. knowledge-sharing and explorative learning) in the Taiwanese technology industry. Data were collected from 200 participations working in 42 technological companies; 178 participants were used to perform hierarchical linear modeling. Openness and collaborative culture were related positively to learning behavior, learning behavior influenced organizational climate negatively, and collaborative culture and organizational climate did not moderate openness and learning behavior. This study uses two-level variables to examine influences on learning behavior. Using hierarchical linear modeling, two-level variables and moderating effects are examined simultaneously. The primary contribution of this study is demonstrating that organizational climate types influence learning behavior; the wrong climate weakens learning behavior, especially explorative learning.


Keywords


learning behavior; knowledge-sharing; explorative learning; openness; collaborative culture; organizational climate

Full Text:

PDF

References


Abu Elanain, HM. (2010). Work locus of control and interactional justice as mediators of the relationship between openness to experience and organizational citizenship behavior. Cross Cultural Management: An International Journal of Information Management, 17(2), 170-192.

Azadegan, A, & Dooley, KJ. (2010). Supplier innovativeness, organizational learning styles and manufacturer performance: An empirical assessment. Journal of Operations Management, 28(6), 488-505.

Berson, Y, Nemanich, LA, Waldman, DA, Galvin, BM, & Keller, RT. (2006). Leadership and organizational learning: A multiple levels perspective. The Leadership Quarterly, 17(6), 577-594.

Bock, GW, Zmud, RW, Kim, YG, & Lee, JN. (2005). Behavioral intention formation in knowledge sharing: Examining the roles of extrinsic motivators, social-psychological forces, and organizational climate. MIS Quarterly, 29(1), 87-111.

Cabrera, Á, Collins, WC, & Salgado, JF. (2006). Determinants of individual engagement in knowledge sharing. The International Journal of Human Resource Management 17(2), 245-264.

Chen, CJ, & Huang, JW. (2007). How organizational climate and structure affect knowledge management - the social interaction perspective. International Journal of Information Management, 27(2), 104-118.

Claro, DP, & Claro, PB. (2010). Collaborative buyer–supplier relationships and downstream information in marketing channels. Industrial Marketing Management, 39(2), 221-228.

Darviri, SV, & Woods, SA. (2006). Uncertified absence from work and the Big Five: An examination of absence records and future absence intentions. Personality and Individual Differences, 41(2), 359-369.

Desyllas, P, & Hughes, A. (2008). Sourcing technological knowledge through corporate acquisition: Evidence from an international sample of high technology firms. The Journal of High Technology Management Research, 18(2), 157-172.

Dickson, MW, Smith, DB, Grojean, MW, & Ehrhart, M. (2001). An organizational climate regarding ethics: the outcome of leader values and the practices that reflect them. The Leadership Quarterly, 12(2), 197-217.

Ellis, APJ, Hollenbeck, JR, Ilgen, DR, Porter, COLH, West, BJ, & Moon, H. (2003). Team learning: collectively connecting the dots. Journal of Applied Psychology, 88(5), 821-835.

García-Morales, VJ, Lloréns-Montes, FJ, & Verdú-Jover, AJ. (2007). Influence of personal mastery on organizational performance through organizational learning and innovation in large firms and SMEs. Technovation, 27(9), 547–568.

George, JM, & Zhou, J. (2001). When openness to experience and conscientiousness are related to creative behavior: An interactional approach. Journal of Applied Psychology, 86(3), 513-524.

Hibbert, P, & Huxham, C. (2005). A little about the mystery: Process learning as collaboration evolves. European Management Review, 2(1), 59-69.

Hsu, IC. (2008). Knowledge sharing practices as a facilitating factor for improving organizational performance through human capital: A preliminary test. Expert Systems with Applications, 35(3), 1316-1326.

Janz, BD, & Prasarnphanich, P. (2003). Understanding the antecedents of effective knowledge management: The importance of a knowledge-centered culture. Decision Sciences, 34(2), 351-384.

Keyton, J, Ford, DJ, & Smith, FI. (2008). A mesolevel communicative model of collaboration. Communication Theory, 18(3), 376–406.

López, SP, Peón, JMM, & Ordás, CJV. (2004). Managing knowledge: the link between culture and organizational learning. Journal of Knowledge Management, 8(6), 93-104.

Lai, HC, Chiu, YC, & Liaw, YC. (2010). Can external corporate venturing broaden firm’s technological scope? The role of complementary assets. Journal of Engineering and Technology Management 27(3-4), 183-196.

Lai, MC, Huang, HC, Lin, LH, & Kao, MC. (2011). Potential of organizational memory for creating service performance: a cross-level analysis. Expert Systems with Applications, 38(8), 10493-10498.

Lam, A, & Lambermont-Ford, JP. (2010). Knowledge sharing in organisational contexts: A motivation-based perspective. Journal of Knowledge Management, 14(1), 51-66.

Law, CCH, & Ngai, EWT. (2008). An empirical study of the effects of knowledge sharing and learning behaviors on firm performance. Expert Systems with Applications, 34(4), 2342-2349.

Li, CR, Chu, CP, & Lin, CJ. (2010). The contingent value of exploratory and exploitative learning for new product development performance. Industrial Marketing Management, 39(7), 1186–1197.

Liao, H, & Chuang, A. (2004). A multilevel investigation of factors influencing employee service performance and customer outcomes. Academy of Management Journal, 47(1), 41-58.

Liao, SH, Fei, WC, & Liu, CT. (2008). Relationships between knowledge inertia, organizational learning and organization innovation. Technovation, 28(4), 183-195.

Lin, TC, Wu, S, & Lu, CT. (2012). Exploring the affect factors of knowledge sharing behavior: The relations model theory perspective. Expert Systems with Applications, 39(1), 751-764.

Lin, W-B. (2008). The exploration factors of affecting knowledge sharing – The case of Taiwan’s high-tech industry. Expert Systems with Applications, 35(3), 661-676.

Major, DA, Turner, JE, & Fletcher, TD. (2006). Linking proactive personality and the Big Five to motivation to learn and development activity. Journal of Applied Psychology, 91(4), 927–935.

Makri, M, & Scandura, TA. (2010). Exploring the effects of creative CEO leadership on innovation in high-technology firms. The Leadership Quarterly, 21(1), 75-88.

Matzler, K, Renzl, B, Müller, J, Herting, S, & Mooradian, TA. (2008). Personality traits and knowledge sharing. Journal of Economic Psychology, 29(3), 301-313.

Nazari, JA, Herremans, IM, Isaac, RG, Manassian, A, & Kline, TJB. (2011). Organizational culture, climate and IC: an interaction analysis. Journal of Intellectual Capital, 12(2), 224-248.

Petruzzelli, AM, Albino, V, Carbonara, N, & Rotolo, D. (2010). Leveraging learning behavior and network structure to improve knowledge gatekeepers' performance. Journal of Knowledge Management, 14(5), 635-658.

Pham, NT, & Swierczek, FW. (2006). Facilitators of organizational learning in design. The Learning Organization, 13(2), 186-201.

Ratten, V, & Ratten, H. (2007). Social cognitive theory in technological innovations. European Journal of Innovation Management, 10(1), 90-108.

Rhee, M. (2004). Network updating and exploratory learning environment. Journal of Management Studies, 41(6), 933-949.

Rodríguez, NG, Pérez, MJS, & Gutiérrez, JAT. (2008). Can a good organizational climate compensate for a lack of top management commitment to new product development. Journal of Business Research, 61(2), 118-131.

Schildt, HA, Maula, MVJ, & Keil, T. (2005). Explorative and exploitative learning from external corporate ventures. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 29(4), 493-515.

Singh, AK, & Sharma, V. (2011). Knowledge management antecedents and its impact on employee satisfaction: a study on Indian telecommunication industries. The Learning Organization, 18(2), 115-130.

Slater, SF, & Narver, JC. (1995). Market orientation and the learning organization. Journal of Marketing, 59(3), 63-74.

Soto, CJ, & John, OP. (2009). Ten facet scales for the Big Five Inventory: Convergence with NEO PI-R facets, self-peer agreement, and discriminant validity. Journal of Research in Personality, 43(1), 84-90.

Suppiah, V, & Sandhu, MS. (2011). Organisational culture's influence on tacit knowledge-sharing behaviour. Journal of Knowledge Management, 15(3), 462-477.

Tews, MJ, Michel, JW, & Noe, RA. (2011). Beyond objectivity: The performance impact of the perceived ability to learn and solve problems. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 79(2), 484-495.

Tohidinia, Z, & Mosakhani, M. (2010). Knowledge sharing behaviour and its predictors. Industrial Management & Data Systems, 110(4), 611-631.

Tsai, MT, & Cheng, NC. (2010). Programmer perceptions of knowledge-sharing behavior under social cognitive theory. Expert Systems with Applications, 37(2), 8479-8485.

Tu, CY. (2009). A multilevel investigation of factors influencing creativity in NPD teams. Industrial Marketing Management, 38(1), 119-126.

Watanabe, S, Tareq, M, & Kanazawa, Y. (2011). When openness to experience and conscientiousness affect continuous learning: A mediating role of intrinsic motivation and a moderating role of occupation. Japanese Psychological Research, 53(1), 1-14.

Xue, Y, Bradley, J, & Liang, H. (2011). Team climate, empowering leadership, and knowledge sharing. Journal of Knowledge Management, 15(2), 299-312.

Yang, JT. (2007). The impact of knowledge sharing on organizational learning and effectiveness. Journal of Knowledge Management, 11(2), 83-90.

Yang, JT. (2007). Knowledge sharing: Investigating appropriate leadership roles and collaborative culture. Tourism Management, 28(2), 530-543.

Yang, SC, & Farn, CK. (2009). Social capital, behavioural control, and tacit knowledge sharing — a multi-informant design. International Journal of Information Management, 29(3), 210-218.

Zikic, J, & Saks, AM. (2009). Job search and social cognitive theory: The role of career-relevant activities. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 74(1), 117-127.


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2015 Journal of Marketing and HR

Copyright © 2015 Journal of Marketing and HR. All rights reserved.

ISSN 2455-2178

For any help/support contact us at editorial@scitecresearch.com.