E-Learning as an Instrument for Managing Knowledge in the Field of Sustainable Development in a Chemical Company in Poland

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The topic is actual and practical, e-tools are the most successful and useful tools for management in contemporary organizations.

The manuscript has problems when assessed as a scientific article in a prestigious journal as follows:

- Introduction is too general and doesn't describe the reseacrh objective.

- it describes the e-learning platform of an existing company

- the sample is only one company, which could be the topic of a case study, not a research article

- materials and methods are unclear

- discussion and concusion is in one chapter with only one paragraph, it is neither a discussion nor conclusion chapter.

It is recommended to add empirical research conducted in the selected company.

 

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,

Thank you for the comments and suggestions sent, which allowed us to strengthen the content of the article.

1. We changed the introduction. We enriched it with new content. We also have refined and clearly formulated the purpose of the work.
2. We supplemented the article with new sources of information and data, we believe that we have obtained a new quality of the content presented in the article. One of the goals of our article was to develop an e-learning concept for a key company in the chemical industry in Poland, which is looking for new ideas and strategies for sustainable development.
3. We have re-described point 2 on materials and methods. We explained why we focus on a key company in the chemical industry in Poland.
4. We explained the research method adopted in the article and indicated the basic sources of information.
5. We have re-described point 2 on materials and methods. We focused on the case study.
6. We separated “discussion” and “conclusions”. They enriched the content of both points.
7. Data for the article on the surveyed company was obtained from many sources, in particular, we talked to company managers and specialists, Reports provided by the company, data posted on the websites of companies belonging to the ‘Grupa Azoty” Group, and government statistical data on the chemical industry). Such a variety of sources was necessary due to the fact that the studied enterprises belong to strategic enterprises, which in practice means limited access to a lot of data and information useful in strategic analysis. We believe, however, that we will be able to acquire information and knowledge and introduce it to the text, with pleasure from this obstacle.

Best regards.

Reviewer 2 Report

 

The topic of the paper is relevant and very interesting. Authors used international literature sources and cited them correctly. Unfortunately, nearly one third of them are from the last century. I suggest to improve and replacing some literature with more recent sources. Authors used proper methods which helped them in the analysis. I appreciated the statement of them, that it is also very important to stop the robbery economy and implement solutions to repair the damage that has already been done. In that case E-learning platforms are a tool that enables knowledge management in a company. Even in the basic model of implementation without linking to other HR systems, e-learning platforms can be used to manage the fully online learning process - performing educational functions, as well as functions related to the management of resources and users of the e-learning platform. I agree them that it supports knowledge management processes such as: locating, acquiring, developing, sharing, disseminating, using and preserving knowledge. For the described Polish company in the chemical industry, the development and implementation of the e-learning platform will constitute the support for the implementation of the sustainable development strategy.

I suggest to check line 40, because I could not find the end of the last sentence.

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,

Thank you for the comments and suggestions sent, which allowed us to strengthen the content of the article.

 

1. We enriched our article with new articles and a source of information, and verified those that were of a past nature.
2. We enriched and better demonstrated our e-learning concept dedicated to a company that is a leader in the chemical industry in Poland. We have identified resources and limitations in this activity.
3. We checked line 40 and updated its context.

Best regards.

Reviewer 3 Report

The paper is about e-learning as an instrument for shaping knowledge in the field of sustainable development in Polish companies of the chemical sector and in this context the use of e-learning platform as a tool for knowledge management of people in the organization creates opportunities for the development processes. 

 

I consider that the paper is of an important subject. I would suggest improvement of style and clarity, the abstract and the sections from the results to the conclusion. The conclusions are too short for the results they present.

I would also suggest a better explanation of the methodological choices (concepts and methods). Second, a better explanation of the quality of the data. These can explain or give an idea of the quality of the results. I would also expect a better literature review on sustainability development, humanistic approach (as appears on p. 2).

On page 4 and following a deeper treatment of sustainable development and knowledge management could be done.  

How do you characterize the Green new deal and the Swot analysis? How do they compare?

 

Additionally, how is the elearning platform a contribution to the SWOT analysis (especially weaknesses and challenges)?

 

The Discussion and conclusion should be extended. It is short. Some ideas of the discussion should be around sustainability, elearning and the chemical industry challenges and weaknesses-

 

 And what do you mean by an humanistic approach in your paper?

 

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,

Thank you for the comments and suggestions sent, which allowed us to strengthen the content of the article.

1. We improved the style and clarity of the text. We also change the abstract and the sections from the results to the conclusion.
2. We explained methodological choices (concepts and methods) better and with details. .
3. We supplemented the article with new sources of information and data, we believe that we have obtained a new quality of the content presented in the article.
4. We have added a new bibliography to the article.
5. We made deeper treatment of sustainable development and knowledge management on the page 4.
6. We explained the importance of SWOT analysis for companies from the chemical industry in Poland, including a case study of a company for which we presented e-learning and its impact on sustainable development.
7. We have divided the Discussion and conclusions into two parts - we presented the discussion and conclusions separately.
8. We change the sentence with “humanistic approach” in your paper?

Best regards.

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

The changes conducted by the authors after the first review improved the quality of the article. In this form it is recommended for publication.