ROLE OF DIFFUSION IN COLLECTIVE LEARNING
- 1 January 1995
- journal article
- Published by Emerald Publishing in The International Journal of Organizational Analysis
- Vol. 3 (1) , 69-85
- https://doi.org/10.1108/eb028824
Abstract
The critical nature of diffusion in understanding the link between individual competency and collective competency is often underconceptualized. Organizational learning involves diffusion of knowledge and/or skill from the individual to members of the collective, and expansion of the collective's capacity to take effective action. Three types of individual and collective competency are identified, ranging on a continuum from explicit‐and‐quickly‐diffused to tacit‐and‐slowly‐diffused Patterns of diffusion can occur in stages: by critical mass, in cycles, or in a synthesis of styles. A model illustrating these dynamics is presented. Criteria for evaluating successful collective learning are introduced.Keywords
This publication has 11 references indexed in Scilit:
- Collective Mind in Organizations: Heedful Interrelating on Flight DecksAdministrative Science Quarterly, 1993
- Organizing Work by AdaptationOrganization Science, 1991
- Bounded Rationality and Organizational LearningOrganization Science, 1991
- ORGANIZATIONAL MEMORYAcademy of Management Review, 1991
- Organizational LearningAnnual Review of Sociology, 1988
- Organizational LearningAcademy of Management Review, 1985
- To avoid organizational crises, unlearnOrganizational Dynamics, 1984
- Event History AnalysisPublished by SAGE Publications ,1984
- Single-Loop and Double-Loop Models in Research on Decision MakingAdministrative Science Quarterly, 1976
- Organizational Learning: Observations Toward a TheoryAdministrative Science Quarterly, 1965