The purpose of this study was to suggest the implications of human resource development by analyzing the aspect of informal learning in the informal network. Specifically, this study was conducted focusing on the following subjects:
First, what are th...
The purpose of this study was to suggest the implications of human resource development by analyzing the aspect of informal learning in the informal network. Specifically, this study was conducted focusing on the following subjects:
First, what are the structural characteristics of the informal network? Second, what are the relational characteristics of the informal network? Third, what is the aspect of informal learning of the informal network?
To investigate these subjects, a case study was conducted focusing on 68 employees in seven different departments in the administrative structure of Hospital A.
A social network questionnaire was used to collect data for the analysis of the characteristics of the informal network; based on such data, the density, size, centralization, and centrality of the network were analyzed. To analyze the aspect of informal learning in the organization, a questionnaire on the contents and relative importance of informal learning was administered, and the people who were at the center of the network were interviewed.
The following is a summary of the results of this study:
First, the size of the network was 3.6 persons on the average, and density was 0.048 on the average. The highest area of the network was the advice network. Centrality was high in the communication network with 0.197 but low in the trust network with 0.090.
Second, the relationship frequency of three or four times a month in the network accounted for 70%. According to 70% of the employees, such kind of relationship was helpful in doing the work. All of the stars and brokers of the network were persons having served for 10 years or longer. Stars were centered on a small number of managers with position of chief of the section in the advice network or the communication network. The brokers were centered on most of the managers who were among the stars. some were not included, however, with most of them belonging to between staff and assistant manager.
Third, informal learning in the informal network differed according to field. In the communication network, the employees responded that they have understood the importance of learning and value or organizational culture through contacts with other team staff or private meetings related to the business. In the advice network, employees gathered documents related to the business through consulting and grasped what they might learn for effective business performance. In addition, mutual communication between the adviser and advisee was deemed helpful in understanding the business flow and value of life and enhancing self-confidence and fulfillment. In the trust network, employees shared information or ideas related to work and understood the work flow, regulations, and cultures of other departments through contacts between staff, communities, and private meetings. Private counseling wherein employees become acquainted with each other through the network could resolve mental conflict or heal emotional wounds.
The results of this study make the following suggestions with regard to human resource development: first, the characteristics of the network in the organization provide the actual data for analyzing phenomena or culture related to communication, advice and trust between employees who do their work; second, the characteristics of the network provide detailed information on the means of increasing the social capital of the organization in human resource development; third, promoting information learning requires human resource development to react sensitively to the characteristics of the network, which means that the role of human resource development must be intentionally expanded for information learning to take root in the workplace systematically and environmentally.
This study drew several conclusions. First, effective organization management and performance require human resource development to utilize information on the characteristics of the network. Second, the infrastructure of human resource development must be established to raise social capital. Third, the informal network must adopt the informal learning promotion strategy differentiated by staff group or manager group. The system and environment where informal learning can be systemically supported must also be established in the workplace.