Factors influencing learning in European learning oriented organisations: issues for management

This paper reports on one aspect of a European Union‐funded research project, focusing in exploring factors that influence lifelong learning. Influencing factors were categorised as those that inhibit and those that support a learning orientation. Research findings suggest that the same factors could have both supportive and inhibiting influence, highlighting the complexity and subjectivity of investigating the influence of HRD practices and other organisational features on perceptions of learning. The paper also identifies key issues for management – that is, how to manage these factors to further encourage, promote, capture and act on the wide range of learning opportunities apparent in work organisations. It is argued that identifying such factors within an organisation is an important step in enabling managers and other HRD practitioners to recognise how learning might be hindered or helped within that context, before considering strategies and practices to better manage and cope with these influences.