Failing to learn? How organizations can learn from failure

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of the article is to share insights, based on recent management research, into how organizations can learn from their own failure and the failure of others.

Design/methodology/approach

The article draws on recent management research and derives key messages and insights into how organizations can learn from failure.

Findings

There are five key findings to effectively learn from failure: share information, engage in “problemistic search”, learn vicariously, facilitate team learning, and establish a learning process.

Research limitations/implications

CEOs and strategy teams will gain insights into how organizations can learn from their own failures and the failures of others.

Practical implications

Provides guidance on how to establish a deliberate process to derive insights from internal and external failures.

Originality/value

Based on a review of recent leading management research on the theme of organization learning. The BP example, use of the CAIB report, the analysis and generation of key implications, and the guidance points to “How to avoid failing to learn” are original.

Citation

Raspin, P. (2011), "Failing to learn? How organizations can learn from failure", Strategic Direction, Vol. 27 No. 1, pp. 4-6. https://doi.org/10.1108/02580541111096520