Organisational learning in Serbia during the transition: The legacy of Bozidar Cerovic and his contribution to transition research

Abstract

* University of Belgrade, Faculty of Economics, Serbia, ana.aleksic@ekof.bg.ac.rs ** University of Belgrade, Faculty of Economics, Serbia, biljana.bogicevic@ekof.bg.ac.rs *** University of Belgrade, Faculty of Economics, Serbianebojsa.janicijevic@ekof.bg.ac.rs JEL CLASSIFICATION: P31, P21, M10 ABSTRACT: In this paper we address the issue of organisational learning in Serbia during the transition, based extensively on the research work of Božidar Cerović that was published in his conference papers, academic journals, books, and edited volumes from the 1990s onwards, as well as in our joint research. We delineate three generations of organisational learning in the post-1989 transformation, which correspond to the transition periods comprehensively analysed in Cerović’s work. We discuss each of these generations of organisational learning as characterised by the specific learning context, shaded by macro-level determinants and distinctive learning antecedents, nature, practices, and outcomes, and provide a theoretical framework using institutional organisation theory to highlight the specific issue of organisational learning in Serbia during the transition of South-Eastern Europe.