Systemic determinants of learning in public administration. A case study of phytosanitary inspection

Purpose: The aim of the article is to depict the systemic nature of the conditions for learning processes in public administration organizations. The research problem undertaken by the authors is encapsulated in the question: What are the key conditions for the learning processes of public administration organizations? Design/methodology/approach: The text is based on qualitative research. Researchers based on 31 open interviews. The work was grounded in two principal theoretical frameworks: the action research methodology and the concept of the learning organization. Findings: Research has allowed for the identification of the key determinants of systemic learning within the public administration organization. Specifically, attention should be paid to: employee engagement, employee competencies, staff rotation in the HR area, as well as financial resources, employer branding, technical equipment, IT systems, and incentive systems. Research limitations/implications: Qualitative research faces limitations such as small sample size and lack of representativeness. Conducting a quantitative verification of the impact on the administrative organization of identified categories such as staff rotation, employee engagement, employee competences, and financial resources would be a natural extension of the conducted research. Practical implications: The research has identified areas of change that should be introduced in the analyzed organization to dynamize the learning process. The strong sense of mission among employees only partially balances some weaknesses of the organization. Social implications: The implemented solutions can lead to significant improvement in the learning processes within the analyzed organization. Relatively minor changes, such as in onboarding or motivation, can result in a substantial enhancement of functionality. Originality/value: The particular value of the text lies in depicting the systemic nature of the conditions influencing learning processes within a public organization. However, some of these conditions are of particular significance. Among such conditions are effective HR enabling the utilization of Public Service Motivation, as well as funding and resources.