Schools of thought in organizational learning

Simon J. Bell, Gregory J. Whitwell, Bryan A. Lukas

Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science · 2002 · Volume 30 · Issue 1

Abstract

This article attempts to bring coherence to the diversity that characterizes organizational learning research. It argues that organizational learning is embedded in four schools of thought: an economic school, a managerial school, a developmental school, and a process school. The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the schools, describes how they differ from each other, and outlines how each of them can be employed effectively. To demonstrate the benefits of theoretical plurality, the four schools are applied to the key marketing topics of market orientation and new product development. Implications for future research in marketing are provided.

Keywords

Organizational Learning, Market Orientation, Process View, Economic View, Process School

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