Abstract

CEGARRA NAVARRO, Juan Gabriel  and  RODRIGO-MOYA, Beatriz. Individual unlearning: a previous step for relational capital generation. Cuad. Adm. [online]. 2004, vol.17, n.27, pp.11-32. ISSN 0120-3592.

Companies, just like people, are traditionally directed towards learning. However, the greatest obstacle to develop new knowledge is unlearning what is already known. Unlearning is the process in which obsolete and misleading knowledge is rejected. But organizations cannot unlearn. Only people are capable of learning and ‘unlearning’ through mental activity. The work here presented explains the process of individual unlearning as a necessary step for relational capital generation. Data from 139 Spanish companies working in the optic sector are used; success parameters that define the individual unlearning process are identified through two structural equation models. Results indicate that ‘unlearning’ is unlikely to occur on an individual basis unless it is fostered and, therefore, it needs to be authorized by management and not to be obstructed by rules and regulations. However, organizations might not be investing as much as they should in mechanisms that promote individual ‘unlearning’ capabilities. Consideration should be given to how existing rules and procedures obstruct ‘unlearning’, how individuals and groups should be encouraged to get out of conventional thought boundaries, and how knowledge structures could be made more transparent. In order to generalize results, this research study will be carried out in other sectors and with others items.

Keywords : Individual unlearning; intellectual capital; relational capital; SME; Optic Industry of Spain.

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