An explorative analysis of the links between learning behavior and change orientation

The article presents an explorative study on the links between learning behavior and change orientation of individuals. When reading literature on how to develop employees and organizations, it strikes one how less focus there is on learning and change needs of individuals. This paper deals with this missing notion by detecting the learning behavior of employees and the change orientation of individuals in organizations. We explored the interconnections between these two individual developmental characteristics. From our pilot study can be suggested that learning behavior and change orientation are linked with eachother based on two distinguished dimensions; a prospective orientation and a reflective orientation. We argue that managing learning or change in organisations should be in line with the dominant learning and change orientations of the employees. Given the need for a reflective change program, interventions should be made to stimulate learning behavior and thinking about change in the direction of reflection. The same holds for situations in which there is a need for a prospective change program. Based on these insights, the article outlines a research agenda and researchable questions in the field of learning and change in organizations