The contribution of informal organizational learning to the development of managerial competencies

Abstract

Organizational learning is a theme that has been gaining ground in the contemporary organizational scenario, contributing to the improvement of competencies required in the corporate environment. Given the relevance of this subject, this study aims to analyze the contributions of informal organizational learning to the development of management skills. The nature of the research is exploratory-descriptive, of qualitative approach, through a case study. For data collection, we used semi-structured interviews with seven managers of a healthcare company located in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The data collected were analyzed using the content analysis technique. As results, we observed that the managerial competencies that were fundamental to the position were identified by the managers themselves during their trajectories in the company, and that these behavioral competencies are developed through informal learning, present in the daily routine of managers. These routines involve actions and practices such as: learning through interaction with a co-worker, learning by observation of another colleague, learning from problem solving and learning through self-reflection. The conclusion was that informal learning is perceived and valued by the operational managers as a form of constant development of competencies.