With the development of science and technology and expansion of educational environments, the educational environment has become competitive and challenging. And new paradigms have emerged that have made survival difficult for many universities. In such an environment, the transformation of competitive advantages is natural. Learning is the greatest competitive advantage in the new educational paradigms. Therefore, those universities that learn sooner faster and better than their competitors are more successful. Meanwhile, organizational culture has an impact on all activities of the universities. Since the organizational culture includes a complex part of the values and beliefs of the staff, any changes will lead to the change of learning in the universities. If all the factors of organizational learning are provided but there is no appropriate culture, the organizational learning will not be successful. Hence it is necessary for universities to understand their organizational culture and use the learning as a tool to create competitive advantage. In this paper, the concepts of organizational culture, organizational learning and the effect of organizational culture on organizational learning are discussed at the public and private universities in Damascus.
Alavi, M., and Leidner, D.E. (2001), ‘Review: Knowledge Management and Knowledge
Management Systems: Conceptual Foundations and Research Issues,’ MIS Quarterly, 25 (1), 107–136.
Alexakis, G., A.R. Platt, D.V. Tesone, 2006. “Appropriating biological paradigms for the organizational setting to support democratic constructs in the workplace”, Journal of Applied Business and Economics., 6(1), 17-28.
Alibeigi, A. (2005). Integrating of sustainability in Iranian agricultural higher education system. Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, University of Tehran.
Argote, L., Beckman, S. and Epple, D. (2003), ‘‘The persistence and transfer of learning in industrial settings’’, Management Science, 36 (2), 140-54.
Argyris, C., and Schon, D.A. (1978), Organizational Learning II: Theory, Method, and Practice, New York, MA: Addison-Wesley.
Barney, J. B. (1991). Firm resources and sustained competitive advantage. Journal of Management, 17(1), 1231-1241.
Beyk Zad J. 2010. "Organizational Factors Affecting Organizational Learning in Region 8 gas transmission operations", J HRM Oil Indust 12, 64-33.
Bowden, J., & Matron, F. (1998). The university of learning: Beyond quality and competence in higher education. London: Kogan page.
Brian, D. J., & Pattarawan, P. (2003). Understanding the antecedents of effective knowledge management: The importance of a knowledge-centred culture. Decision Sciences, 34, 351-384.
Cameron, K. S., & Quinn, R. E. (2006). Diagnosing and changing organizational culture: Based on the competing values framework. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Cameron, K.S., R.E. Quinn, 1999. Diagnosing and Changing Organizational Culture. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
Chang, D.R. and Cho, H. (2008), ‘‘Organizational memory influences new product success’’, Journal of Business Research, 61 (1), 13-23.
Chang, S-Ch. and Lee, M-S. (2007), ‘‘The effects of organizational culture and knowledge management on organizational learning in higher education institutions’’, Journal of Applied Management and Entrepreneurship, 9 (3), 91-113.
Chin-Loy, C. (2003), ‘‘Assessing the influence of organizational culture on knowledge management success’’, Doctoral dissertation. Nova Southeastern University, Davie, FL.
Chu, YC (2007). Human Resource Management (First edition). Taipei city: Wu-Nan Culture.
Cook, S. D. N., & Yanow, D. (1993). Culture and organizational learning. In D. Cohen & L. S. Sproull (Eds.), Organizational Learning (pp. 430-459). CA: Thousand Oaks.
Crossan, M. M., & Guatto, T. (1996). Organizational learning research profile. Journal of Organizational Change, 9(1), 107-112.
Crossan, M., Lane, H. and White, R.E. (1999), ‘‘An organizational learning framework: from intuition to institutions’’, Academy of Management Review, 24 (3), 522-37.
Czerniewicz, L., & Brown, C. (2009). A study of the relationship between institutional policy, organizational culture and e-learning use in four south african universities. Computers & Education, 53, 121-131.
Daft RL (2001). Organization theory and design (7th ed.). Cincinnati, Ohio: South-Western College Publishing.
Daft, J. (2001), ‘The Acquisition, Transfer and Depreciation of Knowledge in Service Organizations: Productivity in Franchises,’ Management Science, 41 (10), 1750–1762.
Davenport, T. and Prusak, L. (1998), Working Knowledge, Harvard Business School Press, Boston,MA.
De Long, D. and Fahey, L. (2000), ‘‘Diagnosing cultural barriers to knowledge management’’, Academy of Management Executive, 14 (4), 113-27.
Deal, T. E., & Kennedy, A. A. (1982). Corporate culture: The rites and rituals of corporate life. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.
DeGeus, A. P. (1988). Planning as learning. Harvard Business Review, 69(2), 70–74.
Denison, D. R. (1990). Corporate culture and organizxational effectiveness. New York: Wiley.
Denison, D. R., & Mishra, A. K. (1995). Towards a theory of organizational culture and effectiveness. Organization Science, 6, 204-223.
Denison, D. R., & Spreitzer, G. M. (1991). Organizational culture and organizational development: A competing values approach. Research in Organizational Change and Development, 5, 1-21.
Denton, J. (1998). Organizational learning and effectiveness. New York: Routledge.
Dodgson, M. (1993), ‘‘Organizational learning: a review of some literatures’’, Organization Studies, 14 (3), 375-94.
Easterby-Smith, M. (1997). Disciplines of organizational learning: Contributions and
critiques. Human Relations, 50(9), 1085-1113.
Emden, Z., Yaprak, A., & Cavusgil, S.T. (2005). Learning from experience in international alliances: Antecedents and firm performance implications. Journal of Business Research, 58(7), 883–892.
Fiol, C. and Lyles, M. (1985), ‘‘Organizational learning’’, Academy of Management Review,10 (4), 803-13.
Galunic C, Weeks J (2001). A Cultural Evolution in Business Thinking: Mastering people Management, Financial Times (London). pp. 2-3.
García-Morales, V. J., Lloréns-Montes, F. J., & Verdú-Jover, A. J. (2007). Influence of personal mastery on organizational performance through organizational learning and innovation in large firms and SMEs. Technovation, 27(9), 547-568.
Garcia-Morales, V. J., Lopezmartin, F., & Liamassanchez, R. (2006). Strategic factors and barriers for promoting educational organizational learning. Teaching and Teacher Education, 22, 478–502.
Garratt, B. (1990). Creating a learning organisation: A guide to leadership, learning and development: Institute of Directors.
Garvin, D. (1993), ‘‘Building a learning organization’’, Harvard Business Review, 74 (4), 78-91.
Goh, S. C. (1998). Toward a learning organization: The strategic building blocks. Advanced Management Journal, 63(2), 15–20.
Gold, A.H., Malhotra, A., and Segars, A.H. (2001), ‘Knowledge Management: Organizational Capabilities Perspective,’ Journal of Management Information Systems, 18 (1), 185–214.
Hofstede, G. (1980), Culture’s Consequences: International Differences in Work-related Values, Sage,Thousand Oaks, CA.
Huber, G. (1991), ‘‘Organizational learning: the contributing processes and the literatures’’, Organization Science, 2 (1), 88-115.
James, C. R. (2003). Designing learning organization. Organizational Dynamics, 32(1), 46–61.
Jerez-Gomez, P., Céspedes-Lorente, J., & Valle-Cabrera, R. (2005). Organizational learning capability: A proposal of measurement. Journal of Business Research, 58(6), 715-725.
Kogut, B. and Zander, U. (1992), ‘‘Knowledge of the firm, combinative capabilities and the replication of technology’’, Organization Science, 3(3), 383-97.
Kotter, J., and Heskett, J. (1992), Corporate Culture and Performance, New York: Free Press.
Koutroumanis, D., G. Alexakis, 2009. “Organizational culture in the restaurant industry: Implications for change”, Journal of organizational culture communications and conflict, 13(2): 45-53.
Kululanga, G.K., Edum-Fotwe, F.T., and McCaffer, R. (2001), ‘Measuring Construction
Contractors’ Organisational Learning,’ Building Research and Information, 29, 1, 21–29.
Lau, C. M., & Woodman, R. W. (1995). Understanding organizational change: a schematic perspective. Academy of Management Journal, 38, 537.
Lee, Ch. and Chen, W-J. (2005), ‘‘The effects of internal marketing and organizational culture on knowledge management in the information technology industry’’, International Journal of Management, 22 (4), 661-72.
Leona, L. (2004), ‘‘Knowledge management and organizational culture: a social action perspective’’, Doctoral dissertation, George Washington University, Washington, DC.
Liao, S.H.and Wu, C.C. (2009). Knowledge Management and Innovation: The Mediating Effects of Organizational Learning, in Proceedings of the 2009 IEEE IEEM, 1850- 1854.
Lucas, C., & Kline, T. (2008). Understanding the influence of organizational culture and group dynamics on organizational change and learning. The Learning Organization, 15(3), 277–287.
Lynn, B.E. (1999), ‘Culture and Intellectual Capital Management: A Key Factor in Successful ICM Implementation,’ International Journal of Technology Management, 18 (5), 590–603.
Mahler, J. (1997), ‘Influences of Organizational Culture on Learning in Public Agencies,’ Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, 7 (4), 519–540.
Marquardt, M., & Reynolds, A. (1994). Global learning organization: Gaining advantage through continuous learning. New York: Irwin.
Miller, Danny (1996). Configurations revisited. The Strategic Management Journal, 17(7), 505–512.
Mitchell MA, Yate D (2002). How to use your organizational culture as a competitive tool. Nonprofit World, Madison, 20(2): 33-34.
Naderi Khorshidi, A. (2002). Designing a model for development of organizational learning capability in Iran Khodro Cooperative. Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, University of Tehran.
Nasr Esfehani, A. (2007). Empowerment Mystery. Journal of Management and Development Planning.
Nikbakht, A., Siadat, S. A., Hoveida, R., & Moghadam, A. (2010). Study of the Relationship between Knowledge Management and Chairpersons Leadership Styles at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences from Faculty View Points. Health Information Management, 7(2), 216-224.
Nonaka, I. (1991), ‘‘The knowledge-creating company’’, Harvard Business Review, 69 (6), 96-104.
Nonaka, I. (1994). A dynamic theory of organizational knowledge creation. Organizational Science, 5, 14–37.
Patterson, G. (1999). The learning University. The Learning Organization, 6(1), 9–17.
Perez, S., Montes, J. and Vazquez, C. (2004), ‘‘Managing knowledge: the link between culture and organizational learning’’, Journal of Knowledge Management, 8 (6), 93-104.
Peters, T. J., & Waterman, R. H. (1982). In search of excellence lessons from america’s best-run companies. New York: Harper & Row.
Popper, M., & Lipshitz, R. (1998). Organizational learning mechanisms: A cultural and structural approach to organizational learning. The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 34, 161-179.
Prajogo, D.I., C.M. McDermott, (2005). “The relationship between total quality management practices and organizational culture”, International Journal of Operations & Production Management, 25(11): 1101-1122.
Quinn, J.B., Anderson, P., and Finkelstein, S. (1996), ‘Managing Professional Intellect: Making the Most of the Best,’ Harvard Business Review, 74 (2), 71–80.
Robbins SP (2001). Organizational Behavior, New Jersey: PrenticeHall.
Rollisnon, D., & Broadfield, A. (2002). Organizational behavior and analysis – An integrated approach (2 ed.). Harlow: Pearson Education.
Schein, E. H. (1984). Coming to a new awareness of organizational culture. Sloan Management Review, (1995, Winter), 3-16.
Schein, E. H. (1985). Organizational Culture and Leadership. San Francisco, CA: Jossy Bass.
Schein, E. H. (1993). On dialogue, culture, and organizational learning. Organizational Dynamics, 22, 40-51.
Schein, E. H. (1996). Can learning cultures evolve? The Systems Thinker, 7, 1-5.
Schein, E.H. (1996), ‘Three Cultures of Management: The Key to Organizational Learning,’ Sloan Management Review, 38 (1), 9–20.
Senge, P.M. (1990), The Fifth Discipline: The Art and Practice of the Learning Organization, Random House, London.
Shepstone, C., L. Currie, (2008). “Transforming the Academic Library: Creating an Organizational Culture that Fosters Staff Success”, the Journal of Academic Librarianship, 34(4), 358-368.
Sinkula, J. (1994), ‘‘Market information processing and organizational learning’’, Journal of Marketing, 58 (1), 35-45.
Sinkula, J.M., Baker, W.E., and Noordewier, T. (1997), ‘A Framework for Market-Based
Organizational Learning: Linking Values,’ Knowledge, and Behaviour, Journal of Academy of Marketing Science, 25 (4), 305–318.
Skelavaj, M., Stemberger, M. I., Skrinjar, R., & Dimovski, V. (2007). Organizational learning culture - The missing link between business process change and organizational performance. International Journal of Production Economics, 35, 346-357.
Slater, S. and Narver, J. (1995), ‘‘Market orientation and the learning organization’’, Journal of Marketing, 59 (3), 63-74.
Sporn, B. (2003). The dialogue between higher education research and practice. Netherlands: Springer.
Susana, P.L., Jose´, M.M.P., and Camilo, J.V.O. (2004), ‘Managing Knowledge: The Link Between Culture and Organizational Learning,’ Journal of Knowledge Management, 8 (6), 93–104.
Tippins, M. and Sohi, R. (2003), ‘‘IT competency and firm performance: is organizational learning a missing link’’, Strategic Management Journal, 24 (8), 745-61.
Trice, H. M., & Beyer, J. M. (1993). The Cultures of Work Organizations. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
Ulrich, D., Von Glinow, M. A., & Jick, T. (1993). High-impact learning: Building and diffusing learning capability. Organizational Dynamics, 22(2), 52–66.
Wei Z, Baiyin Y, Gary NM (2010). Linking organizational culture, structure, strategy, and organizational effectiveness: Mediating role of knowledge management. J. Bus. Res., 63(7), 763-771.
Weiling, K., and Kwok, K.W. (2006), ‘Organizational Learning Process: Its Antecedents and Consequences in Enterprise System Implementation,’ Journal of Global Information
Management, 14(1), 1–22.
Yanow, D. (2000). Seeing organizational learning: A “cultural” view. Organization, 7, 247-268.
Yli-Renko, H., Autio, E. and Sapienza, H. (2001), ‘‘Social capital knowledge acquisition and knowledge exploitation in young technology-based firms’’, Strategic Management Journal, 22 (6), 587-613.
Yu CC (2005). Organizational behavior (Second edition). Taipei City; Wu-nan Culture.
Zali M. 1999. "Interaction of Culture and organizational learning", Mis J, 8th Year, 31, pp. 137-113.
Alsabbagh, M., & Khalil, A. H. AL. (2017). The Impact of Organizational Culture on Organizational Learning (An Empirical Study on the Education Sector in Damascus City). International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 7(4), 515-534.
Copyright: © 2017 The Author(s)
Published by Human Resource Management Academic Research Society (www.hrmars.com)
This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this license may be seen at: http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode