At IKEA, learning isn’t separate from the job. It happens right where the action is: on the floor, during working hours. That became crystal clear during the TinQtable in Delft. Here’s what your organisation might pick up from IKEA’s hands-on approach to learning.
What started with selling matchsticks and pencils in the Swedish village of Älmhult has grown into a global brand. One that also happens to take learning seriously. But make no mistake: it’s done the IKEA way. That means accessible, practical, people-driven and always with purpose.
As Ronald Bruggeman, Learning & Development Manager at IKEA, puts it: “You should develop while doing the work. If something’s part of your job, then learning it should be too.”
That calls for smart, bite-sized learning. No mandatory modules hidden deep in a forgotten LMS, but quick and useful nuggets of knowledge you can apply on the go. Hungry for more? Great, but save the extra deep dives for after hours.
”I started on the shop floor at IKEA. Becoming an HR director wasn’t something I imagined back then. You’re responsible for your own development. We offer the tools. You’ve got to grab the opportunities."
Not every vase is a vase. In some countries, people think it’s a glass. That’s why IKEA adapts where it matters. Product design, communication, and yes, learning too. What works in the Netherlands might not land the same in the Balkans or the US.