Informal learning in Portuguese companies: the managers' perceptions

• Autor(a) principal: Delgado, Catarina Guerreiro
• Data de Publicação: 2018
• Tipo de documento: Dissertação
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: http://hdl.handle.net/10071/16938
• topic: Training; Human resources development; Informal learning; On the job training; Formação; Recursos humanos; Empresa

Regardless of the advances that technology and instructional design have brought, there is lack of information regarding an emergent topic of the 21stcentury business: informal learning. Academic research does not fully cover its state, and much less considers the Portuguese reality. Following this line of reasoning, the purpose of this dissertation is to address informal learning, withdrawing and clarify "How managers in companies operating in Portugal face informal learning". The study follows a qualitative method, with a content analysis of eleven interviews to managers from companies of diverse industries. The main results are presented in the form of four streams of analysis: "concept", "antecedents", "organizational supporting methods" and "outcomes". The findings show that, more than a modality of training, informal learning is a journey which shapes knowledge, through a combination of diversified learning tools and experiences. Results highlight that managers are aware of its importance and are giving way to disruptive pedagogical events in their respective companies, to ensure that employees "reflect" on their own learning needs, access key "organizational" resources and rely on "peer-to-peer interaction" to expand their knowledge. The results suggest that informal learning boosts communication and increases motivation and engagement level, contributing to improved organizational performance. The study finalizes with guidelines to reshape and complement traditional formal training programs, established in most organizations. These practical implications delineate a structure and advocate informal learning, delving into its design.