Institutional narcissism, arrogant organization disorder and interruptions in organizational learning

Purpose – This article aims to present an alternative approach to diagnosing behavioral barriers to organizational learning. Design/methodology/approach – The paper juxtaposes interruptions in organizational learning with characteristics of narcissism and arrogant organization disorder. Psychoanalytically informed theory and DSM‐IV criteria are applied to interruptions in organizational learning and an alternative approach to diagnosing behavioral barriers to organizational learning is suggested. Findings – This paper illustrates how managers might account for human failings when considering organizational learning in less than ideal settings. Originality/value – This paper demonstrates how informed psychoanalytical theory can be applied to the learning organization and provides a framework from which to diagnose and deal with arrogant organization disorder.