The Persistence and Transfer of Learning in Industrial Settings

Abstract

The persistence of learning within organizations and the transfer of learning across organizations are examined on data collected from multiple organizations. Results indicate that knowledge acquired through production depreciates rapidly. The conventional measure of learning, cumulative output, significantly overstates the persistence of learning. There is some evidence that learning transfers across organizations: organizations beginning production later are more productive than those with early start dates. Once organizations begin production, however, they do not appear to benefit from learning in other organizations. The implications of the results for a theory of organizational learning are discussed. Managerial implications are described.organizational learning, learning curves, productivity, technology transfer

Working With a Fixed Operating Room Team on Consecutive Similar Cases and the Effect on Case Duration and Turnover Time

“…13 Yet, some studies show homogeneous learning curves across sites 14 and others show heterogeneity across sites. [15][16][17][18] These varying results may be due to differences in the extent of social and organizational changes provoked by a new technology or practice that gives rise to differences in user acceptance and behavior. 19,20 Much of the world's OR capacity uses consistent teams throughout the day.…”

Competition, innovation, and the effect of R&D knowledge

“…See for exampleArgote et al (1990) andBenkard (2000).7 This escape competition motive has been pointed out in previous theoretical papers on innovation, see e.g Mookherjee and Ray (1991). for an early work.…”

The Choice of Foreign-Market Investment Modes: An Empirical Analysis Using Transaction-Cost and Organizational Learning Frameworks

“…Organizational learning theory, in the original production context, suggests an improvement of the organization's performance through their process of experience accumulation (Yelle, 1979;Levitt and March, 1988;Argote et al, 1990;Epple et al, 1991).…”

“…These are not the subject of the current research, because these modes imply a high influence and intervention of the host government that do not allow to foreign firms a sufficient flexibility in sense of market economy (Root, 1987;Gougeon and Gupta, 1998). So, we concentrate, based on Transaction-Costs Economics (Coase, 1937;Williamson, 1975Williamson, , 1979 and Organizational Learning theory (Yelle, 1979;Levitt and March, 1988;Argote et al, 1990;Hamel, 1991), to analyze the foreign firm's investment mode choice between IJV and WOS.…”