The evolution of learning strategies in organizations: From employee development to business redefinition

Executive Overview The dynamics of rapid change, heightened global competition and advancing technology mean that organizational success will be increasingly dependent on learning. Recognition of the importance of learning in today's business reality is reflected in a recent explosion of interest in learning organizations and the emergence of corporate learning centers and universities. Although reports of new corporate initiatives appear daily, and rhetoric abounds, there has been little synthesis of the underlying logic of recent learning initiatives. Using the example of Motorola University, we present a model depicting three phases of evolution of learning strategies in large industrial organizations.