This study aims to explore grit as an individual-level antecedent of learning persistence and examines how learning persistence – sustained, iterative re-engagement in learning activities – translates individual motivation into continuous improvement behaviours in organisational contexts. Grit is conceptualised as a durable motivational orientation; learning persistence as the behavioural mechanism through which grit is expressed; and continuous improvement as the individual-level incremental improvement behaviours that result.
Drawing on learning organisation theory and positive psychology, this study adopts an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design. Study 1 surveys 300 full-time employees from four UAE sectors – healthcare, education, services and technology – using structural equation modelling. Study 2 conducts semi-structured interviews with 25 employees to explore how grit and learning persistence operate within hierarchical and multicultural organisational contexts.
Grit is positively associated with learning persistence, which fully mediates the relationship between grit and continuous improvement behaviours. Full mediation was confirmed by a significant indirect effect and a non-significant direct path. Learning persistence manifests as disciplined, iterative re-engagement, most effective when supported by leadership endorsement, psychological safety and structured feedback.
Organisations must attend simultaneously to structural learning conditions and individual psychological resources, fostering grit and learning persistence through developmental feedback, knowledge-sharing routines, and psychologically safe environments.
This study advances learning organisation theory by specifying grit as an individual-level psychological micro-foundation of learning persistence, and learning persistence as the distinct behavioural mechanism through which individual motivation converts into continuous improvement – two constructs operating at different explanatory levels: dispositional orientation and enacted iterative behaviour.
