Continuous learning culture, attitudes and job performance: comparing companies in public and private sectors

Abstract:

This article investigates the relationship among continuous learning culture, perception of growth opportunities and individual performance, comparing companies in the public and private sectors. The paper is based on theories that propose that shared beliefs about support for learning in the organizational context are an important situational factor that can influence the attitudes of employees and their job performance. A quantitative research was conducted with survey questionnaires answered by employees of the sales force of three distinct organizations, all major competitors in the same market, being two private and one public. The results suggest that continuous learning is more present in the culture of private companies, and it is significantly related to the perception of growth opportunities and performance.

Keywords:
organizational culture; knowledge management; continuous learning; public administration; performance