Does Large Size Always Slow Down Learning and Implementation?
The Role of Motivation and Culture

Daniel Z. Levin
Rutgers University

Stephen M. Shortell
University of California, Berkeley

August 2006

Working Paper

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Abstract

Are large organizations faster or slower than small organizations at learning to implement a new system or innovation after officially adopting it? We find that, among hospitals implementing total quality management (TQM), large organizations have less desire to learn but, ironically, have more ability to learn. As a result, those few large organizations that do possess a strong motivation to learn and implement TQM have the best implementation success of all.

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