The Use of Information and Communication Technologies in Organizational Learning Practices: A Research Study in an Innovation-oriented Portuguese Organization

Abstract

This study aims at understanding the use of ICT core Learning and Innovation (L&I) practices and their impact in the firm capability. The analysis of organizational learning capability proposals and the Portuguese innovation management standard NP4457 recommendations, allowed the identification of five common practices that were used in the study: idea generation; market and technology surveillance; problem solving; dialogue and knowledge transfer; training and competence development. A mixed method case study has been developed with a Portuguese large company, where each L&I practice was assessed in a perspective of the means promoted by the organization - processes and ICT resources; and results - in terms of the institutional leader and workers’ perceptions regarding the impact of those practices. The leader perception was collected through interview process and worker’s perception through an online questionnaire. The paper provides some findings showing that ICT is proving to promote an effective basis for organizational L&I practices and it is perceived by both leader and workers has contributing positively to the firm capability.