This paper was aimed at developing a new paradigm and models of lifelong learning companies, and policy tasks associated with the construction of lifelong learning companies. For this purpose, this paper attempted to identify the participation rate, the supporting factors, obstacles, and outcomes as well as a new paradigm of lifelong learning in organizations with a survey and case studies.
To attain these objectives, a survey of 3,367 employees was carried out. The survey contained questions regarding the general impression of lifelong learning, the present state of, and future prospects for participation in formal and informal lifelong learning activities and their lifelong learning outcomes. The following is a summary of the results of the survey:
The current participation rate of lifelong learning and future intention to participate were relatively low. Although employees were participate in diverse formal and informal lifelong learning activities, a lack of transfer and applicability of learning to the workplace resulted in low outcomes of learning. The main barrier of participation in learning activities was turned out lack of time rather than learning costs. To address these problems, university and companies should role as lifelong learning hubs in communities.
With regards to the case studies, relevant materials were collected and analyzed from the cases of ASTD HRD Excellence Awards, the cases of Investment in People in UK, the cases of People Developer in Singapore, and the cases of lifelong learning companies in Korea. The results of the study can be summarized as follows:
The excellent companies in learning carry out lifelong learning strategies on the basis of the following new paradigms: The workplace is not a market for exchanging manpower but a learning place for self-actualization; the purpose of lifelong learning is not limited to performance improvement but also the creation of self-actualization and meaningful work and life of its employees; each employee is regarded not as a means and a resource for profit, but as an invaluable business partner and a lifelong learner.
Meanwhile, in terms of human aspects, the role of the leader is critical to a learning organization. Executive leaders as sponsors create a vision that embraces learning principles, create a learning culture, and provide support to local line leaders. Subject matter experts participate as learning champions who provide the impetus for learning by creating, sharing, utilizing, and standardizing knowledge. managers as learning facilitators get actively involved in developing learning linkages throughout their unit to provide access to new knowledge and information.
Lifelong learning activities should focus on fostering the knowledge workers who continuously think about their work, and improve and innovate it to maximize value and performance. For this, individualized career development supporting systems(i.e. individual competency assessment, learning guidelines, mentoring, and tuition-refund) are strengthened and can be openly accessed by anyone who wants to learn and each employee's learning rights are guaranteed. Meanwhile, the term 'learning' is not limited to the acquisition of knowledge and skill but includes the whole cycle of learning, its application to the improvement and innovation of work and life, and reflection for continuous improvement and innovation. Learning is integrated with work and aligned to work improvement and organizational innovation.
The requirements for lifelong learning organizations are the creation of sustainable learning opportunities and learning cultures, and learning support systems. In addition, the government should build policies to guarantee the lifelong learning right, the best HRD company awards, and learning partnerships between learning stakeholders in communities.
In summary, lifelong learning organizations have become, and will remain key success factors for individuals, organizations, and nations. Lifelong learning firms are becoming important partners in the learning society, as they provide ever more opportunities for continuous learning to their employees and their regions.