Evaluation of learning organization by employees of Chiangmai Ram Hospital

Abstract

This independent study aimed to evaluate the extent to which Chiangmai Ram Hospital is a learning organization, using the translated version of the Dimensions of the Learning Organization Questionnaire developed by Marsick and Watkins (1998). The sample used for this study consisted of 552 employees who worked at Chiangmai Ram Hospital. The quantitative data were analyzed through descriptive analysis (frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation) and inferential analysis (t-test for independent group and ANOVA). Most of the respondents in study, as employees of Chiangmai Ram Hospital, were female, aged 25 to 30, had a bachelor’s degree, worked as a patient assistant, worked in the inpatient service department, had between 1 to 5 years of experience, and earned less than 15,001 baht per month. The sample group excluded doctors, part-time workers, interns, and subcontractors. The results revealed that employees’ overall perception of Chiangmai Ram Hospital as a learning organization reflects an average mean of 3.97. This is interpreted as employees perceiving factors that promote learning as occurring “often” in the hospital. Seven dimensions, arranged from highest mean to lowest mean, were ranked as follows: (1) inquiry and dialogue (4.25), (2) systems that capture and share learning (4.01), (3) collaboration and team learning (3.99), (4) continuous learning (3.93), (5) connecting the organization to its environment (3.93), (6) people empowerment (3.88), and (7) strategic leadership for learning (3.80).