Organisational learning in multinational companies: explaining inter-organisational variation

This paper addresses the extent to which multinational companies (MNCs) deploy practices to facilitate organisational learning and the reasons for inter-organisational variation in sodoing. Using data from 260 MNCs in Ireland, we find that comparatively large numbers of firms have practices in place to facilitate organisational learning across their global operations. Most notably, we find almost half of all MNCs have a formal policy on organisational learning, while more than six in every ten MNCs in Ireland utilise three or more organisational learning mechanisms. In investigating inter-organisation variation with respect to our organisational learning dimensions, we test a number of hypotheses involving nationality, sectoral, MNC and HR factors. Our results show that the international HR structures are significant factors in explaining organisational learning in MNCs. We also find support that employment size, sector and integration between the MNCs global operations are useful variables in explaining variation in the use of organisational learning practices in MNCs.