Differentiation and Integration in Organizational Learning: A Garbage Can Model

4区 管理学 Q3 Economics, Econometrics and Finance
Sangyoon Yi, Nils Stieglitz, T. Knudsen
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引用次数: 3

Abstract

Abstract In this study, the authors unpack the micro-level processes of knowledge accumulation (experiential learning) and knowledge application (problem solving) to examine how task allocation structures influence organizational learning. The authors draw on untapped potential of the classical garbage can model (GCM), and extend it to analyze how restrictions on project participation influence differentiation and integration of organizational members’ knowledge and consequently organizational efficiency in solving the diverse, changing problems from an uncertain task environment. To isolate the effects of problem or knowledge diversity and experiential learning, the authors designed three simulation experiments to identify the most efficient task allocation structure in conditions of (1) knowledge homogeneity, (2) knowledge heterogeneity, and (3) experiential learning. The authors find that free project participation is superior when the members’ knowledge and the problems they solve are homogenous. When problems and knowledge are heterogeneous, the design requirement is on matching specialists to problem types. Finally, the authors found that experiential learning creates a dynamic problem where the double duty of adapting the members’ specialization and matching the specialists to problem types is best solved by a hierarchic structure (if problems are challenging). Underlying the efficiency of the hierarchical structure is an adaptive role of specialized members in organizational learning and problem solving: their narrow but deep knowledge helps the organization to adapt the knowledge of its members while efficiently dealing with the problems at hand. This happens because highly specialized members reduce the necessary scope of knowledge and learning for other members during a certain period of time. And this makes it easier for the generalists and for the organization as a whole, to adapt to unforeseen shifts in knowledge demand because they need to learn less. From this nuanced perspective, differentiation and integration may have a complementary, rather than contradictory, relation under environmental uncertainty and problem diversity.
组织学习中的差异化与整合:一个垃圾桶模型
摘要在本研究中,作者揭示了知识积累(经验学习)和知识应用(问题解决)的微观过程,以考察任务分配结构如何影响组织学习。作者利用了经典垃圾桶模型(GCM)尚未开发的潜力,并将其扩展到分析对项目参与的限制如何影响组织成员知识的差异化和整合,从而影响组织在解决不确定任务环境中的多样性和变化性问题时的效率。为了分离问题或知识多样性和体验式学习的影响,作者设计了三个模拟实验来确定在(1)知识同质性、(2)知识异质性和(3)体验式学习条件下最有效的任务分配结构。作者发现,当成员的知识和他们解决的问题是同质的时,免费项目参与是优越的。当问题和知识是异构的时,设计要求是将专家与问题类型相匹配。最后,作者发现,体验式学习产生了一个动态问题,其中调整成员的专业化和将专家与问题类型相匹配的双重职责最好通过层次结构来解决(如果问题具有挑战性)。层级结构效率的基础是专业成员在组织学习和问题解决中的适应性作用:他们狭窄但深刻的知识有助于组织在有效处理手头问题的同时调整成员的知识。这是因为高度专业化的成员在一定时间内减少了其他成员的必要知识和学习范围。这使得多面手和整个组织更容易适应知识需求的意外变化,因为他们需要学习的东西更少。从这个细致入微的角度来看,在环境不确定性和问题多样性的情况下,分化和融合可能是互补的,而不是矛盾的。
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来源期刊
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期刊介绍: Advances in Strategic Management is dedicated to communicating innovative, new research that advances theory and practice in Strategic Management. The domain of the series encompasses, but is not limited to, corporate and business unit strategy, strategic organization and process, alliances and networks, and competitive dynamics. The series is committed to expanding the scope of Strategic Management theory and analysis and enriching practice by: -Encouraging multitheoretical approaches that span multiple social science disciplines -Welcoming papers using a diversity of innovative research methods -Creating focused volumes that explore in depth promising new research directions, consolidate research streams, and address significant current theoretical and practical problems.
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