Lifelong Learning as a Competitive Advantage: Enhancing Organizational Learning Culture in an IT Company

Abstract

In the context of increasing volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA),
organizational learning cultures are becoming critical drivers of long-term competitiveness and adaptability. This thesis aims to assess the learning culture at the software
company Dynatrace and to identify areas for improvement in order to support lifelong
learning and sustainable organizational development. The central research question asks
to what extent the current learning culture meets the demands of a dynamic work environment and what measures can strengthen it further.
To answer this, a two-step methodological approach was applied: a comprehensive
literature review formed the theoretical foundation, followed by a quantitative employee
survey. The survey was based on the well-established Dimensions of the Learning Organization Questionnaire (DLOQ) by Marsick and Watkins (1992), complemented by
custom-developed items derived from key themes in the literature.
By focusing on a high-growth tech company, the study offers novel insights into
how learning cultures function under the conditions of digitalization, agility, and rapid
innovation. The findings show that while Dynatrace demonstrates strong foundational
elements of a learning organization, notable challenges persist—such as limited integration of learning into day-to-day work, participation disparities across demographic
groups, and insufficiently institutionalized learning processes. These specific weaknesses
provided the basis for developing targeted recommendations aimed at embedding learning more deeply into the organization, fostering inclusive participation, and supporting
a culture of continuous learning.
While the study provides valuable insights, its generalizability is limited by factors
such as the self-selection of survey participants and the absence of qualitative data. Future research should address these limitations by incorporating longitudinal and mixedmethods approaches to gain a more holistic understanding of learning culture dynamics
over time and across contexts.

Date of Award	2025
Original language	English
Supervisor	Tanja Jadin (Supervisor)