Action Learning in Practice

Mike Pedler

Gower Publishing, Ltd., 1997 - Business & Economics - 403 pages

Action Learning (AL) and related management development methods are a growth area. This revised edition studies the theory, practice, and implementation of AL. Divided into sections, each part deals with AL from a different viewpoint; experienced practitioners present their views on the nature of AL, and eight case studies drawn from a variety of organizations around the world explore their experiences with the programme and the improvements in effectivenesss of their people and organization. Key aspects of designing and running an AL programme are explored, and ways of evaluating the AL approach are described.

Contents

• Introduction to Part I: 3
• The Power of Action Learning: 15
• Managing as Moral Art: 31
• The Enterprise as a Learning System: 41
• Minding our Ps and Qs: 49
• What do We Mean by Action Learning?: 61
• A Biography of Action Learning: 77
• Applications: 91
• Industrial Restructuring in the Czech Republic: 107
• An Incompany programme: 117
• Action Learning at Digital Equipment: 129
• Selfimprovement in Chinese Joint Venture: 139
• Action Learning in an Academic Context: 145
• Doctors as Managers: 173
• Network Learning in an Austrian Hospital: 185
• Questions of Practice: 195
• The Role of the Set Adviser: 209
• The shell of Your understanding: 221
• The Learning Process: 229
• More than just Process: 243
• US Human Resource Professionals and Action: 257
• Continuity in Action Learning: 269
• Participating in Action Learning: 279
• Evaluating Action Learning: 291
• Participants Voices: 293
• More Than Just a Task Force: 329
• Evaluating Action Learning: 347
• A Review of the Literature: 373
• Sources of Further Information: 393

About the author

Mike Pedler is Emeritus Professor of Action Learning at Henley Business School, University of Reading and a partner in the Centre for Action Learning Facilitation. He has written and edited many books on self-development, action learning and the learning organisation.

Christine Abbott is a partner in the Centre for Action Learning Facilitation. She is an associate of the Open University and Leeds Metropolitan University. A Trustee of the ILM, she was instrumental in writing the qualification standards for action learning.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Action Learning in Practice
• Editor: Mike Pedler
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: Gower Publishing, Ltd., 1997
• ISBN: 0566077957, 9780566077951
• Length: 403 pages
• Subjects: Business & Economics / Training