Examining the Relationship between Organizational Learning Styles and Project Performance
Publication: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 135, Issue 6
Abstract
A review of literature on organizational learning suggested that organizations mainly exhibit three types of learning styles: single-loop learning (SLL), double-loop learning (DLL), and deutero learning (DeuL). SLL refers to the detection and correction of errors without adjusting one’s underpinning assumptions about performance requirements. DLL refers to improvement actions which are undertaken in response to the change of one’s underpinning assumptions. DeuL refers to the establishment of a system which propels continuous learning. It has been advocated that effectuating these learning styles are critical for attaining continuous project performance improvement. This paper reports a study that aimed to examine the relationship between organizational learning styles and performance improvement in construction projects. A conceptual model for the same was first developed. Data about the contracting organizations’ practice of learning styles and project performance were collected through a questionnaire survey. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the significance of the relationship between organizational learning styles and project performance improvement. It was found that the attainment of project performance improvement was positively related to the practice of DLL. Further, DeuL was found essential for facilitating the practice of SLL and DLL.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
Al-JiBouri, S. H. (2003). “Monitoring systems and their effectiveness for project cost control in construction.” Int. J. Proj. Manage., 21(3), 145–154.
Arbukle, J. L., and Wothke, W. (1999). Amos 4.0 user’s guide, Small Waters Corporation, SPSS Inc., Chicago.
Argyris, C., and Schön, D. (1978). Organisational learning: A theory of action perspective, Addison-Wesley, Reading, Mass.
Bennis, W., and Nanus, B. (1985). Strategy IV: Deployment of self, leaders: Strategies for taking charge, Harper & Row, New York, 187–214.
Chaaya, M., and Jaafari, A. (2001). “Cognizance of visual design management in life-cycle project management.” J. Manage. Eng., 17(1), 49–57.
Cheung, S. O., Suen, C. H. H., and Cheung, K. W. K. (2004). “PPMS: A web-based construction project performance monitoring system.” Autom. Constr., 13(3), 361–376.
Construction Industry Review Committee of Hong Kong (CIRC). (2001). Construct for excellence, Hong Kong.
Crawford, P., and Bryne, P. (2003). “Project monitoring and evaluation: A method for enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of aid project implementation.” Int. J. Proj. Manage., 21(5), 363–373.
Drucker, P. F. (1974). Management—Tasks, responsibilities, practices, Heinemann, London.
Duncan, R., and Weiss, A. (1979). “Organizational learning: Implication for organization design.” Res. Organ. Behav., 1, 75–123.
Easterby-Smith, M., Thorpe, R., and Lowe, A. (1991). Management research: An introduction, Sage, London.
Egan, J. (1998). “Rethinking construction: The report of the construction task force.” Dept. of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, London.
Far East Trade. (2003). Hong Kong builder directory, Far East Trade Press (No. 35), Hong Kong.
Fiol, C. M., and Lyles, M. A. (1985). “Organisational learning.” Acad. Manage. Rev., 10(4), 803–813.
Francis, S. (1997). “A time for reflection: Learning about organizational learning.” Learn. Organ. Int. J., 4(4), 168–179.
Franco, L. A., Cushman, M., and Rosenhead, J. (2004). “Project review and leaning in construction industry: Embedding a problem structuring method within a partnership context.” Eur. J. Oper. Res., 152(6), 586–601.
Hair, J. F., Anderson, R. E., Tatham, R. L. and Black, W. C. (1998). Multivariate data analysis, 5th Ed., Prentice-Hall, N.J., 88–92.
Hayes, J., and Allinson, C. W. (1998). “Cognitive style and the theory and practice of individual and collective learning in organisations.” Human Relations, 51(7), 847–871.
Holt, G. D., Proverbs, D., and Love, P. E. D. (2000). “Survey findings on UK construction procurement: Is it achieving lowest cost, or value?” Asia-Pacific Build. Constr. Manage. J., 5(2), 13–20.
Huemer, L., and Östergren, K. (2000). “Strategic change and organizational learning in two Swedish construction firms.” Constr. Manage. Econom., 18(6), 635–642.
Jashapara, A. (2003). “Cognition, culture and competition: An empirical test of the learning organization.” Learn. Organ. Int. J., 10(1), 31–50.
Jöreskog, K., and Sörbom, D. (1996). LISREL 8: Users reference guide, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Hillsdale, N.J.
Kippenberger, T. (1997). “The value chain: The original breakthrough.” The Antidote, 2(5), 7–10.
Kline, R. B. (1998). Principles and practice of structural equation modeling, Guilford Press, New York, 190–244.
Kululanga, G. K., McCaffer, R., Price, A. D. F., and Edum-Fotwe, F. (1999). “Learning mechanisms employed by construction contractors.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage., 125(4), 215–233.
Kululanga, G. K., Price, A. D. F., and McCaffer, R. (2002). “Empirical investigation of construction contractors’ organizational learning.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage., 128(5), 385–391.
Kurtyka, J. (2003). “Implementing business intelligence systems: An organizational learning approach.” DM Review Magazine, November, 2003, ⟨http://www.dmereview.com/editorial/dmreview/print_action.cfm?articleId=7610⟩.
Law, K. M. Y., and Chuah, K. B. (2004). “Project-based action learning as learning approach in learning organization: The theory and framework.” Team Performance Management, 10(7/8), 178–186.
Love, P. E. D., Huang, J. C., Edwards, D. J., and Irani, Z. (2004). “Nurturing a learning organization in construction: A focus on strategic shift, organizational transformation, customer orientation and quality centred learning.” Constr. Innovation, 4(2), 113–126.
Love, P. E. D., and Josephson, P.-E. (2004). “Role of error-recovery process in projects.” J. Manage. Eng., 20(2), 70–79.
Love, P. E. D., Li, H., Irani, Z., and Faniran, O. (2000). “Total quality management and the learning organization: A dialogue for change in construction.” Constr. Manage. Econom., 18(3), 321–331.
Mintzberg, H. (1989). Mintzberg on management: Inside our strange world of organizations, The Free Press, New York, 330–334.
Molenaar, K., Washington, S., and Diekmann, J. (2000). “Structural equation model of construction contract dispute potential.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage., 126(4), 268–277.
Murray, P., and Chapman, R. (2003). “From continuous improvement to organizational learning: Developmental theory.” Learn. Organ. Int. J., 10(5), 272–282.
Norušis, M. J. (1999). SPSS 9.0 guide to data analysis, Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, N.J., 373–430.
Ozorhon, B., Arditi, D., Dikmen, I., and Birgonul, M. T. (2008). “Implications of culture in the performance of international construction joint venture.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage., 134(5), 361–370.
Ozorhon, B., Dikmen, I., and Birgonul, M. T. (2005). “Organizational memory formation and its use in construction.” Build. Res. Inf., 33(1), 67–79.
Paiva, E. L., Roth, A. V., and Fensterseifer, J. E. (2008). “Organizational knowledge and manufacturing strategy process: A resource-based review analysis.” J. Operations Manage., 26(1) 115–132.
Pedler, M., Burgoyne, J., and Boydell, T. (1997). The learning company: Strategies for sustainable development, McGraw-Hill, London.
Petersen, K. J., Frayer, D. J., and Scannell, T. V. (2000). “An empirical investigation of global sourcing strategy effectiveness.” J. Supply Chain Manag., 36(2), 29–38.
Redding, J. C., and Catalanello, R. F. (1994). Strategic readiness: The making of learning organizations, Jossey-Bass, San Francisco.
Sarker, M. B., Aulakh, P. S., and Cavusgil, S. T. (1998). “The strategic role of relational bonding in inter-organizational collaborations: An empirical study of the global construction industry.” J. Int. Manag., 4(2), 415–421.
Sharma, S. (1996). Applied multivariate techniques, Wiley, New York, 116–123.
Tam, C. M., Tam, V. W. Y., and Tsui, W. S. (2004). “Green construction assessment for environmental management in the construction industry of Hong Kong.” Int. J. Proj. Manage., 22, 563–571.
Tosey, P. (2005). “The hunting of the learning organization: A paradoxical journey.” Manage. Learn., 36(3), 335–352.
Wong, P. S. P., and Cheung, S. O. (2005a). “From monitoring to learning: A conceptual framework.” Proc., 21st Annual Conf. of the Association of Researchers in Construction Management, SOAS, London, 1037–1051.
Wong, P. S. P., and Cheung, S. O. (2005b). “A structural equation model on trust and partnering success.” J. Manage. Eng., 21(2), 70–80.
Wong, P. S. P., and Cheung, S. O. (2008). “An analysis of the relationship between learning behaviour and performance improvement of the contracting organizations.” Int. J. Proj. Manage., 26(2), 112–123.
Zipf, P. J. (1998). “An integrated project management system.” J. Manage. Eng., 14(1), 38–41.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
© 2009 ASCE.
History
Received: Feb 13, 2008
Accepted: Sep 16, 2008
Published online: Mar 27, 2009
Published in print: Jun 2009
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.