TY  - JOUR
AB  - Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to investigate how a learning organisation can be created within the framework of the family SME in Ireland.Design/methodology/approach– No comprehensive list of independent family businesses in Ireland was available. To overcome this problem a pragmatic approach was taken in the construction of a sampling frame for this research. Primary data from a stratified random sample of independent unquoted businesses were collected. Data were collected from 121 family SMEs using a postal questionnaire.Findings– The results indicate that micro, small and medium‐sized family firms display some of the characteristics of a learning organisation, but not all of them. Therefore, with strategic review, systems development and cultural change within family SMEs in Ireland, they have the potential to be learning organisations.Research limitations/implications– This study used a single‐respondent, self‐administered questionnaire. Future research should incorporate analysing other members of the family business – family and non‐family members – so as to get a “wider” understanding of the family SME.Practical implications– A major contribution of this research is the identification of an existing and suitable theoretical background that can be applied to the study of the family SME, thereby providing a frame‐of‐reference for the analysis of family SMEs as learning organisations.Originality/value– This paper presents original findings in a highly relevant, but under‐researched field – the family SME as a learning organisation.
VL  - 29
IS  - 9
SN  - 0309-0590
DO  - 10.1108/03090590510629858
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1108/03090590510629858
AU  - Birdthistle Naomi
AU  - Fleming Patricia
PY  - 2005
Y1  - 2005/01/01
TI  - Creating a learning organisation within the family business: an Irish perspective
T2  - Journal of European Industrial Training
PB  - Emerald Group Publishing Limited
SP  - 730
EP  - 750
Y2  - 2024/04/16
ER  -