Abstract
The ability to acquire and utilize new knowledge is considered a key factor for gaining competitive advantage. Getting a better understanding of complexities, and creating an industrial environment where knowledge are created and used to gain a better position, and to meet greater customer demands, are an area of great importance in modern industries. However, because of increased complexities and contradicting occurences in modern markets and value chains, there is a need to gain an increased understanding and insight in different areas. With increased ability to learn and create knowledge, development of industries in complex value chain can be enhaned. Development of environments where learning can happen more effectively and accurate will make industries more capable of developing. Increased actuators, technological development, increased customer demands, the emerging request for development of sustainable solutions, and take increased social responsibility are just a few factors that increase complexity in modern value chains. Additionally, customers are demanding more products, at a higher quality, and at a lower cost, and decreased lead time.
The concept of organizational learning have been a great field of interest over many decades. The phenomena have received a high degree of interest, as it can provide organizations the ability to gain knowledge that can help develop a competitive advantage. Moreover, industries are usually located in networks, where other industries are operating. There are , in such networks, considered to be a high degree of knowledge, competence and experience. Being able to better utilize the knowledge that exist in such network can have great potentials for learning among many different entities. The idea of learning beyond the organization have then emerged. The concept of interorganizational learning are creating a new dimension for gaining and developing new and unique knowledge and understandings in different industrial networks, across organizations.
This thesis are, through a systematic literature review, and through conducting a semi-structured interview at three maintenance departments at a local network (Raufoss Industrial Park), aiming at gaining a better conceptual understanding on how interorganizational learning can help the development of industries in complex value chains.
Keywords: Organizational learning, interorganizational learning, complexity, value chains, industrial development