Analyzing and sustainably improving one's own learning culture is on the agenda of many companies. But how can those responsible make this learning culture in companies visible at all? Proven models help with this:
The first step for companies that want to change their learning culture is to make the current “status quo” visible: The learning culture of your company is not only the willingness of employees to learn or the provision of learning materials, but a diverse and complex structure.
“Learning culture encompasses both the supportive and all inhibiting framework conditions of learning. Thus, learning culture is the expression of the value that learning holds in the company.” (HR Lexicon: Learning Culture)
A learning culture analysis helps your company identify problems in the learning culture, strengthen the importance of learning, and develop appropriate impulses for change.
Simple Learning Culture Analysis for Companies in 3 Levels
Organizational psychologist Edgar Schein developed a specific cultural model for companies for this purpose. In it, Schein distinguishes three levels of (learning) culture in companies:
Level 1 includes the visible things such as learning spaces or provided learning materials, as well as clear behaviors.
At Level 2, the values and attitudes stand, for example, the degree of personal responsibility and the role of supervisors.
Level 3 consists of (unquestioned) underlying assumptions. For example, “I must (not) learn for life” or “Learning only happens in the classroom.”
Even with these three simple levels, you as a HR or education officer can roughly capture the learning culture in your company.
Comprehensive Learning Culture Analysis and Change
A comprehensive learning culture analysis model for companies comes from scil (swiss competence centre for innovations in learning). It not only assesses the status quo but also outlines the process for change (see illustration):
Learning culture analysis for companies by scil with 5 building blocks of learning culture and 4 process phases. Source
This model for learning culture analysis has already been successfully used in several companies. A detailed description and two detailed case studies can be found in the free PDF Excursion: Learning Culture Analysis and Change (Trend Study 2010, scil) – an exciting and worthwhile read for all educational and HR professionals who want to get to the bottom of their own learning culture and effect sustainable changes.
New Learning Methods Require New Learning Cultures for Companies
Whether with a simple 3-level model or a more complex approach – a learning culture analysis of your company forms the basis for change among employees, those responsible, and the entire company. Especially in light of the advancing digitalization, a complete renewal of the learning culture in many companies is long overdue: Modern learning concepts such as e-learning and blended learning need not only technical support but also a new mindset!
