An empirical study of the impact of inter-departmental relationship on organizational learning capability and performance

Chen Guoquan; Zhang Zhongxin; Zheng Xiaoming

Science Research Management ›› 2014, Vol. 35 ›› Issue (4) : 90-102.

Chen Guoquan, Zhang Zhongxin, Zheng Xiaoming

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Abstract

The impact of inter-departmental relationship on organizational learning capability and performance in the company is an important issue in the field of organizational learning now. This paper explores the influence of inter-departmental relationship on organizational learning capability and performance. The relationship among departments in this study includes inter-departmental cooperative goal interdependence, constructive controversy and psychological safety. It is proposed that, cooperative goal interdependence can make different departments more willing to share information and knowledge, constructive controversy can make different departments more capable to interact and think effectively, psychological safety can make different departments more confident to share and explore together without worries and then build better working environment and lead to more knowledge sharing activities. Hence, these three relationships among departments will have positive effect on organizational learning capability and performance. From statistical analysis of 272 samples from Chinese companies, it is found that the above three inter-departmental relationships have significant positive influence on organizational learning capability, and meanwhile, organizational learning capability mediates the influential relationship between the three inter-departmental relationships and organizational performance. We make both theoretical and practical contributions to the field of organizational learning by exploring the influential factors for organizational learning from the perspective of inter-departmental relationships and proposing several specific management practices to improve the relationships and organizational learning capability. Finally some suggestions for future research are put forward in the paper.

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inter-departmental relationship / inter-departmental cooperative goal interdependence / inter-departmental constructive controversy / inter-departmental psychological safety / organizational learning capability / organizational performance

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Chen Guoquan, Zhang Zhongxin, Zheng Xiaoming. An empirical study of the impact of inter-departmental relationship on organizational learning capability and performance[J]. Science Research Management. 2014, 35(4): 90-102

References

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