Int. J. Innovation and Learning, Vol. 12, No. 2, 2012 181
Copyright © 2012 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.
Learning styles and organisational development in
practice: an exploratory study of how learning styles
and individual learning strategies can facilitate
organisational development
Jacob Brix* and Karen M. Lauridsen
Aarhus University, Business and Social Sciences,
Fuglesangs Alle 4,
DK-8210 Aarhus V, Denmark
E-mail: jabk@asb.dk
E-mail: kml@asb.dk
*Corresponding author
Abstract: Issues of innovation and knowledge management are often treated
from an organisational learning perspective. As a complement to this, there is a
vast potential in the strategic enhancement of individual learning by
implementing learning styles profiles and creating personal learning strategies
for management and employees in a knowledge-based organisation. Based on
an action-research case study, we offer an example of how learning styles
affects individual learning and thus personal knowledge creation in practice.
The paper argues that innovation and knowledge management is enhanced and
facilitated in practice by working with the learning styles of individuals and
groups/teams.
Keywords: learning styles; personal knowledge management; organisational
development; learning; incremental innovation.
Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Brix, J. and
Lauridsen, K.M. (2012) ‘Learning styles and organisational development in
practice: an exploratory study of how learning styles and individual learning
strategies can facilitate organisational development’, Int. J. Innovation and
Learning, Vol. 12, No. 2, pp.181–196.
Biographical notes: Jacob Brix is an Industrial PhD student at the Aarhus
School of Business and Social Sciences, Aarhus University. He is affiliated
with the Danish Technological Institute’s Centre for Innovation. He has a
Master’s degree in Corporate Communication and he is a certified Dunn and
Dunn Learning Styles Trainer and Qualified Building Excellence Trainer.
Karen M. Lauridsen is an Associate Professor who works with knowledge
generation, learning and learning styles. Her current research focuses on the
multilingual and multicultural classroom at the International University,
including the challenges of teaching and learning through the medium of a
foreign language. She is a Building Excellence Master Trainer.