How types of organizational culture and technological capabilities contribute to organizational learning

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to develop a theoretical framework of the impact of clan and hierarchy cultures and knowledge technological capabilities on organizational learning.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire survey was used to collect data from 693 employees working in knowledge management centers in various law and enforcement units in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Structural equation modeling was used to test the relationships between the variables.

Findings

The findings show that the clan culture had a significant negative effect on organizational learning. However, hierarchy culture and knowledge technological capabilities had a significant positive impact in predicting organizational learning behavior.

Research limitations/implications

The study focuses on a specific type of public organization only, which somewhat limits the generalizability of the research results. Second, as the study was cross-sectional, the causal relationships could not be inferred directly. The study results will help policymakers create a learning organization by examining the impact of organizational culture and knowledge of technological capabilities.

Originality/value

This paper has added knowledge about the relationship between culture types, knowledge technological capabilities and organizational learning, particularly in the UAE. This study helps to bridge the gap in research on culture and knowledge technological capabilities and organizational learning.

Citation

Al Dari, T., Jabeen, F., Hussain, M. and Al Khawaja, D. (2021), "How types of organizational culture and technological capabilities contribute to organizational learning", Management Research Review, Vol. 44 No. 3, pp. 437-459. https://doi.org/10.1108/MRR-02-2020-0090