Organizational learning culture and innovativeness in Turkish firms

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to present and test a model that examines the relationship between organizational learning culture and innovativeness. Organizational learning culture consists of the organizational learning process and of different culture types that can be placed within the competing values framework. It is defined as a set of norms and values within an organization that support systematic, in-depth approaches aimed at achieving higher-level organizational learning. Innovativeness consists of both innovative culture and innovations. Innovations, the process or outcome of innovating, are more likely to occur and be more successful if there is a strong innovative culture, meaning that the behavioral patterns of the employees are directed towards innovating. We used data from 112 Turkish firms employing more than 50 people. The relationship between organizational learning culture and innovativeness is empirically tested via structural equation modeling (SEM). We found support for a very strong positive relationship between organizational learning culture and innovative culture, as well as for the indirect relation between organizational learning culture and innovations via innovative culture.