THE PARALLEL SYSTEM OF LEARNING - An exploration of white-collar workers practices for developing new skills in a fast-changing business environment

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine how white-collar engineers within high tech firms navigate and respond to the demands for competence development under external pressures brought by advanced technologies.

Theory: This study is based on the theoretical understanding of the mechanisms and dynamics of learning and developing new skills at work. The theory of situated learning and community of practice provides framework for the analysis as it examines learning as a social phenomenon, highly situational and embedded in context & social practices. The theory provides an indepth, critical and nuanced approach to analyse practices of learning and developing skills not just based on the employee level but also group and organisational level.

Method: The study applies a qualitative research method and empirical findings based on a case study and semi structured interviews. Result: The study revealed that in changing business environment, individual practices (self-leadership, entrepreneurship, knowledge seeking and learning by doing) and group practices (virtual collaborations, team learning, learning with key experienced persons, helping others practice) were critical and shaped employee’s ability of developing new skills. All these practices were important as employees develop their own informal system of learning in parallel to the formal system created by managers.