Building The Learning Organization Based On Marquardt,s Model In Shahrekord University Of Medical Sciences

Background and Aim: Learning may be the only sustainable competitive advantage for all organizations. A learning organization is an organisation where people continually expand their capacity to create results they truly desire; new and expansive patterns of thinking are nurtured; collective aspirations are set free; people are continually learning from what others have learned. The aim of this research is to study whether a learning organization and its subsystems are established in Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences (SKUMS). Materials and Methods: This descriptive-survey study was conducted in 2012. Marquardt's standard questionnaire was used to measure learning organization based on Likert's scale with a Cronbach's Alpha coefficient of 0.946. The research sample consisted of 177 staff members (bachelor's degree holders and bove) in seven vice-chancellorships of SKUMS, selected through simple random sampling. Results: The findings of the study are twofold. (1) According to the results of one-sample t-test with a 95% confidence interval, the mean scores in learning organization and sub-systems of learning dynamics, people empowerment, knowledge management and technology application subsysems were higher than the assumed mean of 3; however, the figure turned out to be equal to the assumed mean for the organization transformation subsystem, and (2) Based on Freidman Test, there was a significant difference between the means of at least 2 learning organization subsystems. Conclusion: According to the research findings, more attention should be paid to the subsystems of learning organization establishment and balanced development of these subsystems.