Learning to become an academic in an SME

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to explore how an academic graduate from the cross field between the humanities and the social sciences and blue-collar workers learns to scaffold knowing in a small- to medium-sized enterprise (SME).

Design/methodology/approach

A case study was conducted in an SME that employed the first academic graduate among the company’s blue-collar workers. The paper applies a practice-oriented theoretical framework to study scaffolding knowing among the workers.

Findings

An academic graduate does not necessarily apply subject-specific knowledge from his or her university education in the SME practice. Rather, general academic knowing and academic work practice is applied when scaffolding knowing in the SME. Further, this depends not only on the knowing of the academic graduate but also on his/her ability to apply knowing and the willingness to change in practice.

Research limitations/implications

The study is a single case study gaining in-depth insights into one particular case. This calls for more research.

Practical implications

The study points at the importance for managers and academic graduates in SMEs to foster learning activities and to be aware of and develop ways to integrate the general academic knowing.

Originality/value

The case study provides new insights into the concept of scaffolding knowing in practice theory. Further, it gains unique insights into the practical possibility of employing graduates from higher education in SMEs.

Citation

Christensen, B. (2019), "Learning to become an academic in an SME", Journal of Workplace Learning, Vol. 31 No. 1, pp. 31-41. https://doi.org/10.1108/JWL-05-2018-0074