Abstract: [Purpose] Learning is the eternal theme of human society. In order to make better use of experience and enhance learning effectiveness, it is of great significance for individuals and organizations to transfer what they have learned. Learning transfer is the process that the learner applies the past experience to solve new problems. The purpose of this study is to establish a systematic theory of learning transfer, and to investigate the effects of person, problem, and environment factors on learning transfer effectiveness.[Approach] The authors take use of the method of theoretical derivation to put forward the model of learning transfer on the base of previous research.[Findings] A PPEE theory of learning transfer is established from a systematic perspective, and an argument that the factors of person, problem, and environment have direct and interactive influence on learning transfer effectiveness is brought forward. This theory discusses the mechanism of learning transfer from fives aspects below. First, based on different levels, it classifies the factors of person into the back-end basic ability, the middle-end mental process, and the front-end knowledge structure, and discusses the direct effects of these factors on learning transfer effectiveness. Then, on the classification of imagery similarity and abstract similarity, it specifies four types of the relationship between different problems, and the influence of problem similarity on learning transfer effectiveness. Third, considering the person and problem factors in the same time, it studies the interaction effect of them on learning transfer effectiveness. Forth, it divides the factor of environment into two dimensions of emergence of time and importance of space, and explores the moderating effects of environmental factors on the relationships between person or problem factors and learning transfer effectiveness. Finally, from the systematic perspective, it identifies the three-way interaction of the factors of person, problem, and environment on learning transfer. It is argued that the PPEE model is applicable not only to individuals, but to teams, organizations, regions, and even countries and the society.It summarizes the theoretical and practical contributions, and future development.[Value] This study is meaningful both for enriching the theory of learning and learning transfer and for promoting the practice of education and management.

Key words: learning transfer, organizational learning, team learning, individual learning, back-end basic ability, middle-end mental process, front-end knowledge structure, imagery similarity, abstract similarity, emergency of time, importance of space, learning transfer effectiveness