Title: Organisational learning from external sources: new issues and performance implications

Authors: Michael D. Santoro, Paul E. Bierly III, Shanthi Gopalakrishnan

Addresses: College of Business and Economics, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015, USA. ' James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA 22801, USA. ' School of Management, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ 07102, USA

Abstract: In this special issue, we focus on critical issues associated with organisational learning involving external sources, with particular emphasis on the process of external learning and its implications on firm performance. The papers that constitute this special issue are eclectic, yet an interrelated mix of conceptual, exploratory research, and empirical research that examine several key aspects of learning from external sources. In this introductory article, we synthesise the key issues for pursuing an external learning strategy, discuss the contributions that this special issue makes to the literature that addresses these issues, and offer a framework for guiding further theory development, and empirical research.

Keywords: organisational learning; external sources; firm performance; external learning strategy.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.2007.013424

International Journal of Technology Management, 2007 Vol.38 No.1/2, pp.1 - 10

Published online: 27 Apr 2007 *

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