Understanding organisational learning from an integrative perspective: The relationships between inward and outward organisational learning and organisational outcomes

The present study examines the concept of organisational learning from an integrative perspective that includes two distinct categories: inward organisational learning and outward organisational learning. The research model suggests that a positive relationship will exist between each of the learning categories and organisational outcomes, which in turn comprise two aspects: organisation-focused outcomes (organisational performance and innovation) and employee-focused outcomes (professional development and intention to leave). To examine the model, data on 104 multi-professional early childhood organisations were collected from two sources. The results of an SEM analysis showed that inward organisational learning was positively related to the employee-focused outcomes (professional development and intention to leave), but no significant association was found with the organisational-focused outcomes. For outward organisational learning, positive correlations were found with the organisational-focused outcomes (performance, and innovation) as well as with the employee-focused variable of professional development (but not with intention to leave).