Enhancing learning in small businesses

Abstract

This study addresses knowledge gaps relating to how small business owner/managers facilitate employee learning and how distinctive characteristics of small businesses affect employee learning. Data were collected through interviews with owner/managers and employees and observation of conditions in the physical, social, and organisational environments that might help or hinder informal learning. The findings provide a situated, context-sensitive, and triangulated account relating to two research questions. We find that owner/manager physical and social proximity to employees is a key facilitating factor. Proximity creates the potential for owner/managers to facilitate learning through modelling, provision of immediate feedback and guidance. The owner/manager's positive influence on learning stemming from their physical and social proximity to employees is accentuated by owner/managers employing management styles facilitative of learning. Our findings suggest that a “family-like” culture and the social cohesion in the businesses had enabling effects on employee participants' informal learning, while their lack of opportunities for formal learning would have inhibiting effects.

Document Type

Journal Article

Date of Publication

4-1-2023

Volume

33

Issue

2

Publication Title

Human Resource Management Journal

Publisher

Wiley

School

School of Business and Law

RAS ID

43696

Comments

Coetzer, A., Redmond, J., Sharafizad, J., & Lundy, J. (2023). Enhancing learning in small businesses. Human Resource Management Journal, 33(2), 470-490. https://doi.org/10.1111/1748-8583.12438

Copyright

subscription content

First Page

470

Last Page

490

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Link to publisher version (DOI)

10.1111/1748-8583.12438

Link to publisher version (DOI)

10.1111/1748-8583.12438