Front-line managers opportunities to create a learning environment

Paper in proceeding, 2023

Leadership that fosters and reinforces learning is an important aspect for realising a learning and competitive organisation. The purpose of this paper is to increase the understanding of how front-line managers (FLM), in organisations working with lean practices, facilitate learning for production teams and operators and how the work situation of the FLMs impacts their opportunities to create a learning environment. Semistructured interviews, shadowing, and focus groups were used in three manufacturing companies in Sweden. There was a gap between desired versus exercised leadership in
practice, mainly due to organizational conditions hindering to prioritize exercising leadership that promotes learning.