Personnel’s preferred ways of workplace
learning
The aim of the study is to analyze different ways of workplace learning, particularly the connec tions between workplace learning and one’s gender, age and organizational hierarchy position. The survey conducted among the Finnish water
utilities’ personnel (N = 412) draws on three metaphors of learning, namely acquisition, participation and knowledge-creation. According to the results, knowledge acquisition and knowledge creation are predicted by organizational hierarchy position and learning by participation is predicted by gender and age. The results give an idea what kind of ways of learning and learning environments could be designed in workplaces when taking into account the needs and preferences of employees in different organizational positions.
