Organizational learning strategies in the cameroonian banking sector

Abstract

Organizational learning goes beyond mere knowledge management, encompassing two essential aspects: the organizational dimensions of learning and organization-specific knowledge. This article presents a qualitative comparative study between two leading banks in Cameroon, Afriland First Bank (AFB) and Cameroonian Society of Banks (SCB), focusing on their strategies for managing skills and human resources, particularly through pre-employment internship management. The objectives are to better understand adjustment strategies in skills management and to analyze circumvention strategies in human resources management during pre-employment internships. The methodology adopted relies on thematic content analysis from in-depth interviews with 40 interns and discussions with branch managers. The results highlight significant differences between the approaches of the two banks in terms of recruitment, training, performance evaluation, and rotation opportunities for interns. In the recruitment process, AFB opts for a structured approach with strategic job postings, rigorous candidate selection, and final assessment by a panel. In contrast, SCB favours a pragmatic approach with direct immersion of interns into the professional environment. This difference is also reflected in the training content, where AFB provides more structured training while SCB focuses on operational tasks. In terms of performance evaluation, AFB employs a jury presentation process, whereas SCB assesses interns based on their ability to solve real company problems. Finally, regarding rotation opportunities, AFB offers a more diversified experience by exposing interns to different positions, while SCB focuses on the specific position for which the intern applied. These divergences illustrate the diversity of practices in the Cameroonian banking sector, highlighting the importance of adaptability and flexibility in a constantly evolving environment.

Keywords

• Organizational learning
• Skills management
• Pre-employment internship practices
• Regulatory compliance evasion
• Employment dynamics