Learning the boss' way: Ownership, power and learning in practice and in workplaces

Discussions of learning in practice and in workplaces have been carried out within the various theories of learning. More recent discussions have unveiled the complexity inherent in learning in workplaces by acknowledging the presence of power relations in practice. However, the discussions fall short of an analysis on another more paramount power relation in practice - the relationship and effects of organizational ownership on learning in workplaces. Using the global phenomenon of concentrated media ownership, this paper presents a literature review to show that ownership is another higher form of power relation that shapes what and how professionals learn in practice.