The lessons ofwork:toward an understanding of the implications of the workplace for adult learning and development

Little research attention has addressed the notion of the organization as a facilitator or inhibitor of adult learning or personal growth and development. This theory paper attempts to identify individual‐level and organizational‐level factors that can influence the potential for learning and development in the workplace. Along with the presentation of a theoretical framework, a number of research propositions are generated with the aim of encouraging management scholars and practitioners to more fully consider the impact of the workplace on adult learning and development.