Andrzej Lis, Ph.D., The Faculty of Economic Sciences and Management, Nicolaus Copernicus University, ul. Jurija Gagarina 13a, 87-100 Toruń, Poland, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Agata Sudolska, dr hab., prof. UMK, The Faculty of Economic Sciences and Management, Nicolaus Copernicus University, ul. Jurija Gagarina 13a, 87-100 Toruń, Poland, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Abstract

The aim of the paper is to study relationships between the processes of absorptive capacity (inter-firm learning) and learning lessons through employee suggestions (intra-firm learning) and identify potential synergies between them. The research interest is focused on investigating the following problems: (1) How do organizations apply external knowledge to support intra-organizational learning processes? (2) How should the employee suggestion system be organized to increase (or build) absorptive capacity? The exploratory case study analysis is applied to answer research questions and achieve the aim of the study. The unit of analysis is constituted by inter-firm and intra-firm learning processes observed in the firm Frauenthal Automotive Toruń (FTO).

Keywords: organizational learning; absorptive capacity; lessons learned; employee suggestion system.