Learning at work and competence: different contexts and meanings in the case of transition economy
Journal of European Industrial Training, 28 (7):
574-586 (2004)Abstract
In this paper, the author analyses the different patterns of learning one can find in the
organisations of two contrasting economic fields representing different contexts for learning. The
analysis concentrates on two different occupational groups at the medium skills level: specialists in
the IT sector and skilled workers in the timber and furniture (T&F) sector. One of them belongs to
the “new” and another to the “old” economy. He explains some of the reasons for the emergence of
different patterns of learning and consequences they might have on the development of the
organisations and individual workers. Also treats workplace learning as a means to overcome the
gaps between the skills and competences “required by the job” and the competence workers have.
The author tries to argue that learning, competence development and identification in cases of IT
specialists and skilled workers in the T&F sector with one’s work is mutually closely connected, and
“space of work values” determined by the identification patterns can be a factor as facilitating as
well as limiting the learning and competence development in these cases.