Learning Organizations: Organizational Learning Practices in University Libraries in the Klang Valley, Malaysia

Norliya Ahmad Kassim, and Azizah Mohd Nor, (2005) Learning Organizations: Organizational Learning Practices in University Libraries in the Klang Valley, Malaysia. In: International Conference of Knowledge Management, 7-9 July 2005, Putra World Trade Center.

Affiliations

Universiti Teknologi Mara, Faculty of Information Management
Universiti Teknologi Mara, Faculty of Information Management

Abstract

Researchers have taken a variety of perspective in addressing the concept of learning organization and the practices of learning in organizations. This study aims to investigate whether librarians are practising the concepts of learning organization, and to examine the perceptions of librarians on the practices of organizational level learning in public and private university libraries in the Klang Valley, Malaysia. Twenty-nine variables on the practices of organizational level learning formed the basis of a survey instrument using a seven-point interval scale. Respondents were asked to indicate the degree to which the required statements “is” or “is not” true of their library. The instrument was distributed to a total population of 250 librarians of the public and private university libraries in the Klang Valley of Malaysia. A total of 191 (76.4%) respondents returned the questionnaire. The independent samples t test and mean ranking were used in the analysis of data using the SPSS version 12. The results of the study revealed that librarians perceived learning practices at the organizational level do exist generally, but they are not overly convinced of the extent to which the practices exist. The results of the independent samples t test showed that there is a statistical significant difference in the perceptions of organizational level learning practices between the senior and middle level librarians implying that the senior level librarians have more positive perceptions on the practices of organizational level learning in their organizations than the middle level librarians. The findings also demonstrate that the librarians in the private university libraries are more likely to respond with certainty of the existence of learning at the organizational level than do the librarians from the public university libraries. The test of statistical significance showed significant difference exists between the mean scores of the two groups. The findings will be useful in urging university libraries, especially those in the public sectors to become better learning organizations by improving quality management practices, optimizing management activities, and creating a formalized learning system within their organizations.

Item Type:

Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)

Keywords:

Learning organization, organizational learning, organizational level learning, public university libraries, private university libraries, Malaysia

Subjects:

Z Bibliography. Library Science. Information Science

ID Code:

10738