A comparison of the Levels of Organizational Learning in Hospitals, Based on Ownership Types: A Case Study in Iran

Authors

  • Ghahraman Mahmoudi Associate Professor of Hospital administration research center , Islamic Azad University, Sari Branch, Sari, Iran
  • Vahid Rahimi Yeganeh Masters of Health Services Management, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, KhorramAbad, Iran
  • Fereshteh Fani Master of Health Services Management, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Mazandaran, Iran
  • Mohammad Ali Jahani Associate Professor of Social Determinants of Health Research Center (SDHRC), Health Research Institute,School of medicine, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
  • Shahrbanoo Mahmoudjanloo Masters of Health Services Management, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran

Abstract

Objective: Learning new skills tremendously increases the self-confidence of employees and helps them attain their organizational targets. This study was done to compare the levels of organizational learning in hospitals with regard to ownership type. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted using an analytical-descriptive approach in 2016. The research community members included 2,162 employees of the nominated hospitals in Lorestan province. The sample consisted of 339 people, who were selected using Cochran’s formula with 95% reliability factor. The data collection tools used were the Persian edition of Watkins and Marsick’s standard questionnaire (2003). The collected data was analyzed by SPSS 20 software using statistical tests (i.e. Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, t-test, and ANOVA), and p ≤ 0.05 was considered significant. Results: The average score of learning variable was 2.77±0.64 for teaching hospitals, 2.57±0.77 for Social Security hospitals, and 3.21±0.94 for private hospitals. Learning variables variances were different in these three types of ownership (p < 0.001). Moreover, significant differences were found between learning aspects of individual learning (p < 0.001), group learning (p = 0.007), and organizational learning (p = 0.002). The study was based on the type of hospital ownership. Conclusion: The level of organizational learning in hospitals has a significant difference with regard to their type of ownership. The level of learning can be improved with the help of staff empowerment initiatives taken toward attaining common goals, creating equal opportunities for continuous learning for all personnel, and an appropriate relationship of the organization with the surrounding environment.

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Published

22.09.2018

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Original Research