Learning Organisation Culture and Knowledge Performance in Social Work Academic Departments

Abstract

The concept of ‘learning organisation’ often used in management literature is scarcely
explored within the education sector, particularly so, in social work education. This pa-
per measured the efficiency of the social work academic departments based on percep-
tions of the learning organisation culture and knowledge performance in seven higher
education institutions in Tamil Nadu, India. The study, which employed the Data Envel-
opment Analysis (DEA) methodology, found five institutions to be efficient in utilising
its inputs. The paper shows how relative efficiencies can be determined and also how
targets set for inefficient units can improve the quality of social work academic institu-
tions. Further implications for policy and management are discussed.