The knowledge management to learning organization connection

The changes in the engineering-construction (E-C) industry of the 21st century requireorganizations to take a more active role in developing knowledge management and learningorganization initiatives. The need to both retain knowledge within the organization and focus oncontinuous human resource development throughout all levels of the organization is becoming aprimary challenge throughout the industry. This paper addresses this challenge by focusing onthe question of the link between knowledge management and learning organizations and how totransform an organization from a focus on knowledge management to a focus on developing alearning culture. Based on a series of studies by the PIs into the characteristics of bothknowledge management and learning organizations, this paper outlines models of each of theseconcepts and introduces a bridge that details the level of knowledge management implementationthat must be in place prior to an organization having the capacity to move to a learning focus.Additionally, the case studies conducted during the current study provide a basis for presentingpotentially unsuccessful paths that may be selected by organizations during the implementationof a knowledge management to learning organization transition.