Abstract: Based on the literature and theoretical reasoning, models and hypothesis about relationships among organizational learning (internal learning and external learning), organizational structure (mechanistic structure and organic structure), organizational environment (environmental dynamism) and performance are built from the perspective of contingency theory. With a sample of 213 Chinese companies, Hierarchical Regressions are proposed to examine the moderation. Evidence is found to be consistent with the hypotheses by showing that the impact of organizational learning, both internal learning and external learning on organizational performance are moderated by organizational structure and environmental dynamics. The higher the dynamic environment and the lower the mechanistic structure (the higher the organic structure), the more obvious the effect of organizational learning, both internal learning and external learning, on performance. It is also found that the interaction effect between internal learning and external learning on organizational performance was more significant in organic structure and stable environment. While in mechanistic and dynamic environment, internal learning and external learning don't have synergistic effect on performance. In this study, factors that influence the effect of organizational learning from both inside and outside of organizations are combined to discuss, which makes a comprehensive understanding about how to create better condition and environment for performance improvement. Chinese companies should emphasize both internal and external learning, and integrate the two learning styles by structural design and environmental recognition. Finally, the limitations of the study are analyzed and the future development direction is proposed.

Key words: organizational learning, internal learning, external learning, organizational structure, environmental dynamism, organizational performance