Discovering characteristics of learning organizations in the hotel industry of Nothern Greece

AbstractIn contemporary business environment new challenges, opportunities and threats lead to radical changes in the way organizations are organized. Knowledge and information, organizational planning based on learning structures and cultures have been recognized as the main competitive advantages in order for these organizations to be efficient and survive. The present research investigates the degree to which the hotel industry in Northern Greece has developed the organisational design features/characteristics of learning organisations. A survey of 525 employees and 111 managers indicated that hotel-enterprises have developed characteristics of learning organizations in a moderate degree, concerning their organisational structure and learning culture. The results are better for their human resource polices related to training and development practices, selection and performance appraisal. Differences between employees' and managers' perceptions were also explored.