Worlds within Worlds: The Relationship between Context and Pedagogy in the Workplace

This paper explores the different ways in which people engage in
teaching and learning in the workplace. There is now much more
awareness of the symbiotic relationship between workplace
learning, the organisation of work, level of employee
involvement, and organisational performance, and the broader
economic, regulatory, and social context, within which
organisations have to operate. The paper argues that we have to
identify and take serious account of the contextual factors
(external and internal) which affect all organisations as these are
central to developing our understanding of the nature of
pedagogical practice within any workplace setting. By closely
examining the nature and impact of these contextual factors, we
can gain greater insight into the mystery of why organisations
adopt different practices and why they create such different
learning environments. The paper draws on our tentative initial
findings from the Learning as Work project and includes
vignettes from both the public and private sectors to highlight the
issues raised.