Establishing the Effects of Organizational Learning on Company Performance in the Road Haulage Business in Zimbabwe

Master's Thesis , 2015 , 94 Pages , Grade: 70.0

Business economics - Business Management, Corporate Governance

This study was carried out to examine the nature of the relationship that exists between organizational learning and organizational performance of Zimbabwe’s road haulage businesses. Literature on organizational learning and organizational performance was reviewed and a conceptual framework for the purpose of the study formulated. Information acquisition, information interpretation, information sharing, information quality and behaviour and cognitive changes were used to measure organizational learning. To measure organizational performance the researcher used financial, employee and market dimensions of company performance.

Quantitative research methodology was used where data was gathered using a questionnaire. The questionnaire was carefully designed to collect the right data about organizational learning and organizational performance in the haulage business sector for analysis. A total of 120 questionnaires was administered where 105 were completed and returned. Out of the 105 questionnaires that were returned 2 had missing responses and these were discarded from data analysis. Thus, the study response rate was 85.8%.
Statistical Package for the Social Sciences was used to analyse data. Descriptive statistics i.e. arithmetic means and standard deviations were used to describe how organizational learning is practised in the haulage business sector in Zimbabwe. Inferential statistics in the form of correlation and regression analysis were used to test answer research questions and to test research hypothesis.
The main conclusion reached was that organizational learning is a partial predictor of company performance in Zimbabwe’s haulage sector. Thus, the study partially confirms the study hypothesis. Based on the study conclusions, the study recommends that managers in the haulage business in Zimbabwe focus organizational learning practises to enhance business performance. Haulage companies’ limited resources can be channelled towards enhancing information acquisition, information quality and individual behaviour and cognitive changes by individuals as these were found to positively contribute to company performance.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• CHAPTER ONE.
  • INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY.
  • 1.1 INTRODUCTION...
  • 1.2 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
  • 1.2.1 Overview of Organizational Learning.
  • 1.2.2 Overview of Zimbabwe's Haulage Business...
  • 1.2.3 Challenges Faced by Haulage Operators in Zimbabwe..
  • 1.3 RESEARCH PROBLEM.
  • 1.4 RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
  • 1.5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS.
  • 1.6 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS.
  • 1.7 JUSTIFICATION OF RESEARCH
  • 1.7.1 To the Haulage Businesses.
  • 1.7.2 To the Academics.
  • 1.7.3 To the Researcher.
  • 1.8 SCOPE OF RESEARCH
  • 1.9 DISSERTATION STRUCTURE.
  • 1.10 CHAPTER SUMMARY
• CHAPTER TWO.
  • LITERATURE REVIEW
  • 2.1 INTRODUCTION..
  • 2.2 THE CONCEPT OF LEARNING
  • 2.3 DOES AN ORGANIZATION LEARN?
  • 2.4 LEVELS OF LEARNING
  • 2.4.1 Individual Learning
  • 2.4.2 Group Learning..
  • 2.4.3 Organizational Learning.
  • 2.4.4 Inter-Organizational Learning
  • 2.5 ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING..
  • 2.5.1 Definition of Organizational Learning.
  • 2.5.2 The Development of Organizational Learning.
  • 2.5.3 Types of Organizational Learning …..\li>
  • 2.5.4 Measures of Organizational Learning
  • 2.5.5 Organizational Learning Process by Daft and Weick
  • 2.5.6 Organizational Learning Process by Nevis, Dibella and Gould.
  • 2.6 ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE.
  • 2.6.1 Balanced Scorecard
  • 2.6.2 Stakeholder Approach
  • 2.6.3 Organizational Learning in Small and Large Organizations.
  • 2.7 ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING AND PERFORMANCE
  • 2.8 CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
  • 2.9 CHAPTER SUMMARY
• CHAPTER THREE .

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This dissertation investigates the relationship between organizational learning and organizational performance in the road haulage business in Zimbabwe. It aims to understand how organizational learning practices contribute to the success of haulage companies in the country.

• The nature of organizational learning in the road haulage sector in Zimbabwe
• The relationship between organizational learning and company performance in Zimbabwe's haulage sector
• The specific organizational learning practices that contribute to company performance
• The challenges and opportunities faced by haulage companies in implementing organizational learning practices
• Recommendations for improving organizational learning and performance in the road haulage business in Zimbabwe

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

Chapter One introduces the research topic and provides background information on organizational learning and the Zimbabwean road haulage sector. It outlines the research problem, objectives, questions, and hypothesis, as well as the justification and scope of the study.

Chapter Two presents a comprehensive literature review on organizational learning and its impact on organizational performance. It explores different levels of learning, types of organizational learning, and various measures of organizational learning. The chapter also discusses the conceptual framework that guides the research.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The key terms and topics explored in this dissertation include organizational learning, organizational performance, road haulage business, Zimbabwe, information acquisition, information interpretation, information sharing, information quality, behaviour and cognitive changes, financial performance, employee performance, market performance, quantitative research methodology, correlation analysis, regression analysis.

• Course: Dissertation
• Grade: 70.0
• Author: Kudzanai Sibiya (Author)
• Publication Year: 2015
• Pages: 94
• Catalog Number: V342572
• ISBN (eBook): 9783668388208
• ISBN (Book): 9783668388215
• Language: English
• Tags: establishing, effects, organizational, learning, company, performance, road, haulage, business, zimbabwe