The DOI matches its Crossref record; 22 of the 22 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
From workplace learning to inter‐organizational learning and back: the contribution of activity theory
Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to show how activity theory transcends the boundary between workplace learning and organizational learning. Design/methodology/approach: Activity‐theoretical analyses examine collectives and organizations as learners. On the other hand, activity theory is committed to pedagogical and interventionist actions to change and learning characteristic of workplace learning. Findings: Activity‐theoretical studies put an emphasis on the object, i.e. on what is done and learned together in inter‐organizational networks, instead of studying only connections and collaboration of networks. The theory of expansive learning enables a longitudinal and rich analysis of inter‐organizational learning and makes a specific contribution in outlining the historical transformation of work and organizations by using observational as well as interventionist designs in studies of work and organization. Originality/value: The paper shows that activity theory and the theory of expansive learning provide useful analytical tools for the enrichment of studies in workplace learning, as reported in the articles included in this special issue.
Overview
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
In the citing paper
“Many researchers have come to recognize that boundaries challenge established practices and carry learning potential (Engeström 2001;Engeström and Kerosuo 2007;Johannessen and Ellingsen 2009).”
From Unpacking the Role of Boundaries in Computer-Supported Collaborative Teaching (2020) · cites this paper as Engeström and Kerosuo 2007
Citations
Cites
Interorganizational Collaboration and the Locus of Innovation: Networks of Learning in Biotechnology
Powell, W. W., Koput, K. W., & Smith-Doerr, L. (1996) · Administrative Science Quarterly · doi:10.2307/2393988 · Cited by 8,499
Expansive Learning at Work: Toward an activity theoretical reconceptualization
Engeström, Y. (2001) · Journal of Education and Work · doi:10.1080/13639080020028747 · Cited by 5,436
Self-citationLearning by Expanding: An Activity-Theoretical Approach to Developmental Research
Engeström, Y. (2014) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9781139814744 · Cited by 4,991
Self-citationActivity, consciousness, and personality
Леонтьев, А. Н., & Hall, M. J. (1978) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 4,374
Benkler, Y. R. (2017) · Yale University Press eBooks · doi:10.12987/9780300127232 · Cited by 3,728
Handbook of Organizational Learning and Knowledge
Dierkes, M., Antal, A. B., Child, J., & Nonaka, I. (2003) · Cited by 892
The Oxford Handbook of Organization Theory
Tsoukas, H., & Knudsen, C. (2005) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199275250.001.0001 · Cited by 499
Actor-network theory and organizing
Czarniawska, B., & Hernès, T. (2005) · Cited by 340
Enriching the Theory of Expansive Learning: Lessons From Journeys Toward Coconfiguration
Engeström, Y. (2007) · Mind Culture and Activity · doi:10.1080/10749030701307689 · Cited by 304
Self-citationEngeström, Y., & Blackler, F. (2005) · Organization · doi:10.1177/1350508405051268 · Cited by 247
Self-citation
Research works printed but not linked: 1
- Engeström, Y. (1996), “Developmental work research as educational research: looking ten years back and into the zone of proximal development”, Nordisk Pedagogik: Journal of Nordic Educational Research, Vol. 16, pp. 131‐43.
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Items 101–200 of 204
Teachers' Successful Information and Communication Technology Integration in Primary School
Razak, N. A., Jalil, H. A., Krauss, S. E., & Ahmad, N. A. (2022) · International Journal of Information and Communication Technology Education · doi:10.4018/ijicte.20211001.oa4 · Cited by 5
Curriculum making and higher education: an activity-theoretical perspective
Annala, J. (2022) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-818630-5.03026-8 · Cited by 5
Nurses’ work practices in design: managing the complexity of pain
Černá, K., Weilenmann, A. H., Ivarsson, J., Rysedt, H., Íslind, A. S., Lundin, J., & Steineck, G. (2020) · Journal of Workplace Learning · doi:10.1108/jwl-05-2019-0062 · Cited by 4
Brücknerová, K. (2021) · doi:10.5817/cz.muni.m210-9914-2021 · Cited by 4
Lamm, K. W., Lamm, A. J., Davis, K., Sanders, C. E., & Powell, A. (2021) · The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension · doi:10.1080/1389224x.2021.1984956 · Cited by 4
Cassandre, M. P., & Godoi, C. K. (2014) · Revista Gestão Organizacional · doi:10.22277/rgo.v6i3.1510 · Cited by 4
Winning of Hearts and Minds: Integrating Sentiment Analytics into the Analysis of Contradictions
Ferreira, J., Dennehy, D., Babu, J., & Conboy, K. (2019) · Lecture notes in computer science · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-29374-1_32 · Cited by 4
Mladenović, M. N. (2022) · Put i saobraćaj · doi:10.31075/pis.68.01.01 · Cited by 3
Enthoven, S., Dupriez, V., & März, V. (2024) · Revue française de pédagogie · doi:10.3917/rfped.223.0129 · Cited by 3
Global ICT-Mediated Collaborations: Thinking Beyond Networks
Resnyansky, L. (2011) · IEEE Technology and Society Magazine · doi:10.1109/mts.2011.941328 · Cited by 3
Herbst, P., & Kosko, K. W. (2012) · Deep Blue (University of Michigan) · Cited by 3
Process of change – competence development as a restructuring strategy
Jönsson, S., & Schölin, T. (2016) · Journal of Management Development · doi:10.1108/jmd-11-2013-0146 · Cited by 3
The ICTs-mediated collaboration as a system of social activity
Resnyansky, L. (2010) · IEEE International Symposium on Technology and Society (ISTAS) · doi:10.1109/istas.2010.5514646 · Cited by 3
Use of Development Dialogues in Learning and Changing Journalism Practice
Hujanen, J. (2013) · Nordicom review/NORDICOM review · doi:10.2478/nor-2013-0056 · Cited by 3
Unraveling postgraduate communication learning: from transfer to transformative learning
van den Eertwegh, V. (2015) · Research Publications (Maastricht University) · doi:10.26481/dis.20151111ve · Cited by 3
James, M. (2018) · Lancaster EPrints (Lancaster University) · doi:10.17635/lancaster/thesis/429 · Cited by 3
Organisational learning through a charitable trust-initiated project focusing on end-of-life care
Leung, T. C. H., Snell, R. S., & Lee, D. (2024) · Journal of Health Organization and Management · doi:10.1108/jhom-01-2023-0019 · Cited by 2
Brokers’ facilitation of cross-organizational learning and working on wicked problems
Heijboer, M., Vereijken, M. W. C., & Bronkhorst, L. H. (2026) · The Learning Organization · doi:10.1108/tlo-09-2024-0311 · Cited by 2
Improve Business Results by Learning From Experience in Proactive Reviews
Kolbæk, D. (2018) · Advances in business strategy and competitive advantage book series · doi:10.4018/978-1-5225-7390-6.ch003 · Cited by 2
Colville, T., Boyle, J., & Obonsawin, M. (2023) · Educational & Child Psychology · doi:10.53841/bpsecp.2023.40.2.23 · Cited by 1
Mapping representations in qualitative case studies: can we adapt Boisot’s I-Space model?
Spinuzzi, C. (2023) · Journal of Workplace Learning · doi:10.1108/jwl-01-2023-0013 · Cited by 2
Noriega, J., & Erausquín, C. (2021) · Revista de la Escuela de Ciencias de la Educación/Revista de la Escuela de Ciencias de la Educación · doi:10.35305/rece.v1i17.693 · Cited by 2
Modelling in evaluating a working life project in higher education
Sarja, A., Janhonen, S., Havukainen, P., & Vesterinen, A. (2012) · Studies In Educational Evaluation · doi:10.1016/j.stueduc.2012.06.001 · Cited by 2
Hattinger, M., Eriksson, K. M., Malmsköld, L., & Svensson, L. G. (2014) · Diva portal (Dalarna University Library) · Cited by 2
Micro-Analysis of Concepts for Developing Networking in Social Work
Seppänen, L., & Kloetzer, L. (2014) · Advances in human and social aspects of technology book series · doi:10.4018/978-1-4666-6603-0.ch010 · Cited by 2
Expansive Learning in Construction Projects - a Contradiction in terms?
Klitgaard, A., Nissen, S. B., Beck, F., Jeppesen, R. D., & Buhl, H. (2016) · VBN Forskningsportal (Aalborg Universitet) · Cited by 2
Ajambo, L., Øgrim, L., & Nabaggala, J. (2021) · International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science · doi:10.47772/ijriss.2021.51103 · Cited by 2
Uczenie się zawodu nauczyciela w miejscu pracy
Kędzierska, H. (2023) · Problemy Wczesnej Edukacji · doi:10.26881/pwe.2023.56.02 · Cited by 2
Work-Integrated Learning as an Outcome of Using Action Design Research in Practice
Haj-Bolouri, A., Östlund, C. M., Rossi, M., & Svensson, L. G. (2019) · Lecture notes in computer science · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-19504-5_7 · Cited by 2
An activity theory approach to the contextualization mechanism of language use
Sang, Z.-G. (2019) · Pragmatics and Society · doi:10.1075/ps.16062.san · Cited by 2
Durbin, N. J. (2010) · University of Birmingham Institutional Research Archive (University of Birmingham) · Cited by 2
Exploring teachers' experiences of educational technology : a critical study of tools and systems
Clapham, A. (2012) · Nottingham ePrints (University of Nottingham) · Cited by 2
Pöyry-Lassila, P. (2015) · Aaltodoc (Aalto University) · Cited by 2
Xu, J. (2016) · Research Online (University of Wollongong) · Cited by 2
Critical realist activity theory (CRAT)
Núñez, I. (2012) · IOE EPrints · Cited by 2
Government policy as a learning journey: developmental history of the Brazilian “Diesel Crisis”
FERREIRA, P. S. A., & Reis, J. P. (2025) · Transforming Government People Process and Policy · doi:10.1108/tg-08-2024-0196 · Cited by 1
Exploring the Boundary Space in Partnerships for Continuous Improvement and Leadership
Biag, M., Gomez, L. M., & Imig, D. G. (2023) · Emerald Group Publishing Limited eBooks · doi:10.1108/book-979-8-88730-372-720251025 · Cited by 1
Learning from employers’ perspectives on transition year work experience
Clerkin, A., & Jeffers, G. (2026) · Irish Educational Studies · doi:10.1080/03323315.2026.2675305 · Cited by 1
Partnering in construction: an activity-theoretical perspective
Hartmann, A., & Bresnen, M. (2010) · Research Explorer (The University of Manchester) · Cited by 1
ACTIVITY THEORY APPLIED AT CHANNEL EXPANSIONS IN SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
Lundqvist, S., Marcusson, L., & Jeansson, J. S. (2017) · Problems of Management in the 21st Century · doi:10.33225/pmc/17.12.20 · Cited by 1
VenkatesaNarayanan, P. T., & Thirunavukkarasu, R. (2021) · SDMIMD Journal of Management · doi:10.18311/sdmimd/2021/27518 · Cited by 1
Doing or calculating lean? A sensemaking perspective on workplace learning
Hermanrud, I., & Haukåsen, O. A. (2023) · Journal of Workplace Learning · doi:10.1108/jwl-01-2022-0006 · Cited by 1
Organizational Learning Versus Individual Learning in the Organization
Schwengber, J. G. (2024) · Relational economics and organization governance · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-52015-0_3 · Cited by 1
Mozzato, A. R., & Bitencourt, C. C. (2018) · Desenvolvimento em Questão · doi:10.21527/2237-6453.2018.45.26-43 · Cited by 1
Lee-Gorman, M. (2010) · eSource (Dublin Business School) · Cited by 1
Changing perceptions of ICT at KS3 : a critical investigation using activity theory.
Barnes, J. (2015) · University Of Wales Trinity Saint David Research Repository (University of Wales Trinity Saint David) · doi:10.82227/repository.uwtsd.ac.uk.00000590 · Cited by 1
Participatory Budgeting: Learning Civic Capacities Through Democratic ActivityPreprint
Meléndez, J. W., & Radinsky, J. (2017) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.2961983 · Cited by 1
Organizational Learning for Climate Change Adaptation: A Case Study of Four NGOs in India
Nautiyal, S. (2017) · Cited by 1
The Effects of Calendar Apps on Students’ Perceived Stress
Huang, R. (2021) · Cited by 1
Development, well-being and organisation : perceptions of employees in schools
Rumsby, R. (2010) · Figshare · Cited by 1
A study of the effects of student generated representations on student engagement and learning.
Sellings, P. (2017) · Figshare · doi:10.4225/03/58b6056da4537
Analysseminarier som samverkansform : Följeforskning för hållbart utvecklingsarbete?
Brännmark, M., & Halvarsson, A. (2011) · KTH Publication Database DiVA (KTH Royal Institute of Technology)
The Impact of Social Media on Workplace Culture
Baqutayan, S. M. S., & Al-Hamami, N. M. (2013) · INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COMPUTERS & TECHNOLOGY · doi:10.24297/ijct.v11i8.3004
Weston, C. O. (2014) · Nottingham ePrints (University of Nottingham)
Heikkila, E. H. (2013) · Research in Comparative and International Education · doi:10.2304/rcie.2013.8.4.428
McGirr, P. J. (2009) · Employment relations record
Håvet, J. M. (2015) · NORA - Norwegian Open Research Archives
Travis, T. J. (2015) · ScholarWorks - WMU (Western Michigan University)
FACULTY OF LAW, ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
Rodríguez-Tsuda, L. D. A. (2010)
Strachan, H. C. (2016) · Leicester Research Archive (University of Leicester)
Acculturation Processes and Expatriate Behavior
Watts, L., & Gullberg, B. (2014) · Advances in human and social aspects of technology book series · doi:10.4018/978-1-4666-6603-0.ch017
„Political context matters!“: Eine Analytik zur politischen Situiertheit expansiven Lernens
Schirmer, F., & Geithner, S. (2015) · Managementforschung · doi:10.1007/978-3-658-11194-6_3
Proactive Review - Learn from Experience to Improve Bottom Line
Kolbæk, D. (2016) · International Journal of Organizational and Collective Intelligence · doi:10.4018/ijoci.2016100101
Media concepts as a tool for analysing changing media
Töyry, M., & Helle, M. (2009)
Ropes, D. (2017) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.2991107
Gandanhamo, J. F. (2016) · Unisa Institutional Repository (University of South Africa)
Towards the use of knotworking for increasing innovation in construction projects
Klitgaard, A., Beck, F., Andersen, M. S., Jeppesen, R. D., Nissen, S. B., & Buhl, H. (2017) · VBN Forskningsportal (Aalborg Universitet)
Heikkila, E. H. (2013) · IOE EPrints
Klein, L. L., & Pereira, B. A. D. (2018) · Revista organizações em contexto/Organizações em Contexto · doi:10.15603/1982-8756/roc.v14n28p321-350
Participation, positioning, and power: Opportunities to learn in a university Kinesiology Classroom
Ritchie, A. (2018) · TSpace (University of Toronto)
Scollard, S. (2020) · Journal of Vocational Education and Training · doi:10.1080/13636820.2020.1771105
Strategy practices and praxis: a case of selected South African Business School alumni
Ngwenya, A. (2020) · Unisa Institutional Repository (University of South Africa)
Witkowski, T. (2018) · Research Explorer (The University of Manchester)
An Overview of Activity Theory in Technology-Mediated Higher Education
(2013) · Advances in higher education and professional development book series · doi:10.4018/978-1-4666-4590-5.ch002
Graham, R. (2015) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-22011-6_2
Triadic Mentoring in Early Childhood Education: The Role of Relational Agency
Ben-Harush, A. (2019) · American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting (AERA) · doi:10.3102/1432124
Content meets practice in Cultural Management Education
Kuoppala, E. (2012) · European Journal of Cultural Management and Policy · doi:10.3389/ejcmp.2023.v2iss1-article-2
Colville, T., & Eodanable, M. (2023) · Educational and Child Psychology · doi:10.53841/bpsecp.2023.40.2.4
Colville, T., & Eodanable, M. (2023) · Educational and Child Psychology · doi:10.53841/bpsecp.2023.40.2.10
Schwengber, J. G. (2024) · Relational economics and organization governance · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-52015-0_9
Organising in Self-Organising Ecosystems
Kinder, T., & Stenvall, J. (2024) · Springer texts in business and economics · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-43230-9_6
Kinder, T., & Stenvall, J. (2024) · Springer texts in business and economics · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-43230-9_1
Xu, J. (2025) · Palgrave studies in global higher education · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-80260-7_1
Public Services, Dialectics and Nature
Kinder, T. (2025) · Contributions to Public Administration and Public Policy · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-81140-1_3 · Cited by 1
(2024) · Emerald Group Publishing Limited eBooks · doi:10.1108/979-8-88730-796-120251002
Köp av tjänster för ledningskompetens - en polyfonisk process
Hansson, J. (2010) · KTH Publication Database DiVA (KTH Royal Institute of Technology)
Browne, C. S. C. (2011) · The University of Bath Online Publications Store (The University of Bath)
A multimethod examination of contributors to successful on-the-job learning for vocational students
Metso, S. (2014) · LUTPub (LUT University)
Sustaining Inter-Organizational Learning: A Conceptual Paper
Laubek, C., & Jensen, J. M. W. (2026) · Public Organization Review · doi:10.1007/s11115-025-00972-4 · Cited by 1
Homelessness in Finland: Dialectical Problem-solving
Rusi, L., Stenvall, J., & Kinder, T. (2026) · Palgrave studies in sub-national governance · doi:10.1007/978-3-032-16476-6_2
Kinder, T., Stenvall, J., & Vakkala, H. (2026) · Palgrave studies in sub-national governance · doi:10.1007/978-3-032-16476-6_1
Metadata
- Authors
- Engeström, Y., & Kerosuo, H.
- Affiliations
- University of Helsinki (FI)
- Venue
- Journal of Workplace Learning
- Publisher
- Emerald
- Published
- 2007-08-14
- Volume
- 19
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 336-342
- ISSN
- 1366-5626 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1980608470
- Cited by
- 204
- References
- 22
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 16 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 13
- FWCI
- 22.98
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Workplace Learning (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Education › Innovative Education and Learning Practices
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management › Organizational Learning and Leadership
- Social Sciences › Education › Adult and Continuing Education Topics
- Keywords
- activity theory, inter-organizational learning, workplace learning, organizational learning, expansive learning, interorganizational networks, collective learning
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review