Organizational learning and special contribution of ‘Affectivity’: Case study of an indian R&D organization

This case study aims at understanding ‘organizational learning’ with special reference to ‘knowledge management’. Data was collected from multiple sources under an identified theme an interpretive approach was adopted. The paper seeks to describe ‘social ecology’ of an organization in terms of social structure, social identity, leadership, people and processes. The study was carried out by collecting narratives of peak learning experiences of the organizational members and thematically analyzing them, which bring out role of ‘affect’ in organizational learning. The paper has usual limitations of a single case study design. It however reemphasizes criticality of sociocultural fabric of organization for organizational learning. The paper also identifies ‘positive emotions’ that enhance propensity for knowledge acquisition and knowledge mobility in the organization which in turn makes ‘knowledge management’ a successful intervention. It indicates the importance of ‘element of affectivity’ as a future area of inquiry in the field of ‘organizational learning’.