Unprecedented investment is being made in leadership development across the public sector: leadership courses are growing, and development is a core theme of organizational capacity building initiatives. Within this, action learning has attracted increasing interest as an approach that can simultaneously address individual and organizational development. An impressive and scholarly collection, this book collates important examples and considers the evidence for action learning’s effectiveness. An important read for postgraduate students and researchers of human resources, training and development, this important book draws important insights to raise new questions concerning the role of the facilitator, the value of a ‘bilingual’ ability with public service issues and facilitation, comparisons with coaching and mentoring, and implications for employing action learning in a politicized or hierarchical environment and on a consultancy basis.

The first of a two volume set that fully explore the roots of action learning and the legacy of its principal pioneer, Reg Revans. Rather than prescribe one approach to action learning, it shows alternative approaches to fit different contexts, including classic action learning, action reflection learning and business driven action learning.

This second volume of two discusses the employment of action learning in different contexts, including healthcare, education, government, military and the business world. Use of action learning in delivery of Future Search Conferences is addressed, as well as action learning in community and civil society and the future of action learning.

For 25 years Research in Organizational Change and Development has provided a special platform for scholars and practitioners to share new research-based insights. Volume 20 continues the tradition of providing insightful and thought-provoking chapters. Some papers bring new perspectives to classic issues in the field such as survey feedback, learning and change leadership. Others explore new territories, such as the role of computer mediated communication and its impact on organizational change and development, action learning and the role that it can play in the development of scholar-practitioners, the creation of actionable knowledge about organization development and change, and the role that ODC knowledge can play in assisting organizations to succeed within the new paradigm of sustainable value creation. Together, these chapters make an especially timely and intriguing collection. It represents a unique blend of theory and practice, intervention and research, revisiting traditional practices and introducing emerging new ones, providing multidisciplinary perspectives on current issues in the field and even a proposed new paradigm for organization development and change.

Previous editions of Action Learning in Practice established this authoritative overview of action learning around the world. Over the last decade the move towards action-based organizational learning and development has accelerated, and action learning is now an established part of the education and development mainstream in large and small organizations. Fully revised and updated, this fourth edition covers the origins of action learning with Reg Revans' ideas, and looks at their development and application today. Action learning is self-directed learning through tackling business and work problems with the support of peers and colleagues. A professional and diverse workforce, attracted, influenced and developed in this way is more able to deal effectively with the growing complexity and pressures of working life. As the limits of conventional training and development become more obvious, leaders are increasingly attracted to action-based approaches to learning when seeking better outcomes and returns on investment.

For the first time in one volume, the leading proponents and practitioners of action learning define their approach, and describe how action learning and executive and organizational development are practiced in the public, private and 'not-for-profit' sectors around the world. Described in detail are the experiences of General Electric, Merck, Volvo, Japanese and Korean multinationals, as well as the Canadian Civil Service and The World Council of Churches, among others.

Written for the researcher who wants to inquire into organizational life in a creative way, this innovative book will equip readers with the tools to gather and analyze data using stories, poetry, art and theatre. Ideas are substantiated by reference to appropriate theory and throughout the reader is encouraged to reflect critically on the approach they have chosen and to be alert to ethical issues. Revealing case studies show how the research approaches covered in the book work in practice. Challenging readers to reassess what is possible when conducting research, Creative Methods in Organizational Research will enrich the research experiences of post graduates in the fields of organization studies, management and management education.

Action Learning for Managers is a clear, concise and straightforward guide to this well-established approach to problem solving and learning in groups that enables change in individuals, teams, organisations and systems. Through action learning people develop themselves and build the relationships that are the key to improving operations and bringing about innovations. With questionnaires, checklists, examples and practical advice, this little book includes everything you need to get started. Action learning is essentially a simple idea but one that requires thought, commitment and care to put into practice.

This is an update to the 1996 portfolio and continues to provide a framework for building and sustaining effective public service organisations, based on current good practice and the wide experience of senior public sector managers throughout the Commonwealth. The second edition contains much of the original material, now up-dated together with several new sections. The Portfolio update is designed to be used as a companion resource to the Public Service Country Profiles which, together, can be used as a basis for benchmarking to compare activities and best practices across different national settings.