The lessons learned process as an instrument for organizational knowledge creation in the JAS39 divisions

Since the management of experiences is an essential activity in the military context, this study aimed to conduct an analysis on the lessons learned process carried out by air combat units of the Swedish Air Force, based on the organizational knowledge creation theory. Through an action research approach, a quantitative investigation evaluated and categorized a set of 36 indicators for monitoring modes related to the creation of new knowledge within the air fighter divisions. These indicators were measured in a survey in which the findings, obtained from 87 officers and civilian employees of the six JAS39 divisions, showed an elevated perception of the dimensions based on the individual and the tasks oriented to the sharing of implicit knowledge. Conversely, the dimensions grounded on the exchange of explicit knowledge at the organizational level and on the use of technology disclosed the lower scores in the survey. In addition, the study found similarities in the perception of the respondents when the empirical material was analyzed in four hypotheses outlined in the investigation. These propositions were designed to provide comparisons among the six JAS39 divisions, as well as seek for correspondences between the length of service in the SwAF of the respondents of the survey and their perception of the lessons learned process