University of Minnesota - UMN Executive Leadership Insights
Workplace Learning
Book

Workplace Learning

How to Build a Culture of Continuous Employee Development

Nigel Paine
Kogan Page, 2019
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Editorial Rating

7

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Recommendation

A learning organization can only arise within an existing workplace culture of inclusivity, trust, collaboration and committed leadership, says Nigel Paine, head of learning for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and one of the world’s foremost workplace learning gurus. His book offers a solid prescription for building an organizational learning culture. Individual chapters and case studies cover each element of the modern learning orthodoxy, making this an excellent choice for most leaders and budding L&D professionals.

Summary

Corporate management and culture must adapt to the changing world of work.

The volatility, pace and complexity of work accelerates. To survive shifting conditions, organizations must transform. Learning lies at the heart of that transformation.

Only organizations that succeed in creating learning cultures where self-directed employees develop continuously will survive the next decade. Optimistic, empowered teams comprising lifelong learners who collaborate in an atmosphere of trust are the antidote to the relentless pace of change and disruption.

A learning culture depends on a strong organizational culture.

CEOs create organizational cultures through their behaviors, values and priorities. A learning culture can then emerge to complement the organizational culture, and to help firms adapt and change in response to external conditions. A learning culture can only exist inside a healthy, truthful and empathetic organizational culture.

A learning culture prevents the organizational culture from stagnating. Thus, leaders should put learning at the very center of the organization. Learning must always maintain a direct relevance to the...

About the Author

Nigel Paine worked as head of learning for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). He now leads the doctoral program for CLOs at the University of Pennsylvania and consults with leaders in organizations worldwide to develop learning strategies.

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