Sustainable learning in organizations: a psychosocial ICT-supported process

Abstract

Within Community of Practice theory, this study aimed at validating a psychosocial model about sustainable learning as a process of participation in socially responsible practices of organizations, fostered by ICTs. 345 workers, employers and employees of Apulian Small and Medium Enterprises, were involved in our study. Two main groups were considered: workers (N = 130) who participated in DI.CO.TE., a project focused on building a sustainable digital network among SMEs (ICT group), and they (N = 215) who were not part of this project (no ICT group). Both groups filled in a questionnaire, including several scales of Corporate Social Responsibility, organizational sense of community and commitment. Quantitative analyses demonstrated that the participation of workers in the sustainable practices fostered their organizational sense of community, which, in turn, influenced their commitment as a salient dimension of self-definition. Furthermore, ICTs empowered the sustainable learning process.