Does Lean Production Sacrifice Learning in a Manufacturing Environment? An action learning case study.
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| Title: | Does Lean Production Sacrifice Learning in a Manufacturing Environment? An action learning case study. |
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| Authors: | Scott, Fiona M., Butler, Jim, Edwards, John |
| Source: | Studies in Continuing Education. Nov2001, Vol. 23 Issue 2, p229-241. 13p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Organizational learning, Knowledge management |
| Abstract: | Achieving organisational development through the enhancement of workplace learning is a popular recent strategy advocated in the management and business literatures. Yet what is learned is highly dependent on the workplace context. A lean production/just-in-time manufacturing environment is characterised by extreme time pressures. This paper outlines findings on how action learning was experienced in a manufacturing company employing lean production practices. An action learning program was implemented to foster learning in this company. Using a sociocultural framework, we describe how the production discourse surrounding lean production interacted with attempts to introduce reflective action and learning into that environment. The findings are that action learning practices were accommodated to a certain extent into the work routine during times of production stability, but were largely abandoned during times of crisis. Our analysis demonstrates that the cultural meaning of "work" in this lean production environment excluded all forms of "meaning" that were not visible, physical and targeted at immediate production needs. While there was evidence of individual personal and professional development achieved in this setting, there was little evidence to date of organisational development. The cultural hostility to non-urgent work hindered the reflective activity that could address the systemic issues that in turn could generate organisational development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Studies in Continuing Education is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Education Research Complete |
| FullText | Links: – Type: pdflink Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: ehh DbLabel: Education Research Complete An: 5655187 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Does Lean Production Sacrifice Learning in a Manufacturing Environment? An action learning case study. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Scott%2C+Fiona+M%2E%22">Scott, Fiona M.</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Butler%2C+Jim%22">Butler, Jim</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Edwards%2C+John%22">Edwards, John</searchLink> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Studies+in+Continuing+Education%22">Studies in Continuing Education</searchLink>. Nov2001, Vol. 23 Issue 2, p229-241. 13p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Organizational+learning%22">Organizational learning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Knowledge+management%22">Knowledge management</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Achieving organisational development through the enhancement of workplace learning is a popular recent strategy advocated in the management and business literatures. Yet what is learned is highly dependent on the workplace context. A lean production/just-in-time manufacturing environment is characterised by extreme time pressures. This paper outlines findings on how action learning was experienced in a manufacturing company employing lean production practices. An action learning program was implemented to foster learning in this company. Using a sociocultural framework, we describe how the production discourse surrounding lean production interacted with attempts to introduce reflective action and learning into that environment. The findings are that action learning practices were accommodated to a certain extent into the work routine during times of production stability, but were largely abandoned during times of crisis. Our analysis demonstrates that the cultural meaning of "work" in this lean production environment excluded all forms of "meaning" that were not visible, physical and targeted at immediate production needs. While there was evidence of individual personal and professional development achieved in this setting, there was little evidence to date of organisational development. The cultural hostility to non-urgent work hindered the reflective activity that could address the systemic issues that in turn could generate organisational development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Studies in Continuing Education is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
| PLink | https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=ehh&AN=5655187 |
| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1080/01580370120101984 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 13 StartPage: 229 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Organizational learning Type: general – SubjectFull: Knowledge management Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Does Lean Production Sacrifice Learning in a Manufacturing Environment? An action learning case study. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Scott, Fiona M. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Butler, Jim – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Edwards, John IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 11 Text: Nov2001 Type: published Y: 2001 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 0158037X Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 23 – Type: issue Value: 2 Titles: – TitleFull: Studies in Continuing Education Type: main |
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