Learning at the core: Knowledge management as an employer strategy for lifelong learning

The present study explores the relationship between the knowledge-enabling environment and the demand of training in 18 small private companies providing educational and consultancy services in Sweden. In this way, the chapter is an exploration of the ways Swedish knowledge intensive companies manage their knowledge. The 18 companies have participated in a European programme for employee¿s competence financed by the European Social Fund. As part of this European financed programme companies have evaluated their business activity and determined their training needs in order to remain competitive. The 18 companies, thus, are in a position of providing information on the demand for learning that is rarely available. Knowledge is understood here both as the structure and the content of the mental schemas. It is embodied in individuals; it differs from information and data; and it can be tacit or explicit. Knowledge is a dynamic entity that is in a constant dialectic process with the reality it represents. It is through this dialectic process that people learn. This conceptualization of knowledge implies that when looking at organizational processes for managing knowledge, it is important not only look at formal organized activities for learning, but also informal learning activities that constitute the main source for tacit knowledge as well as the conditions in place for knowledge creation, what is here called the knowledge enabling environment. It is argued that through knowledge management companies are indeed implementing strategies for the promotion of lifelong learning. Lifelong learning has been used in policy arenas as a guiding principle for educational policies and reforms.

VILLALBA GARCIA Ernesto; 

2025-07-02

Information Science Reference (IGI Global)

JRC52492

978-1-60577-271-8 (online),   

https://www.igi-global.com/gateway/chapter/24919,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC52492,   

10.4018/978-1-60566-270-1 (online),