Action Learning For Developing Leaders And Organizations

Action learning is a dynamic process that involves a small group of people solving real organizational problems, while focusing on how their learning can benefit individuals, groups, and the larger organization.

"What exactly is Action Learning (AL)? AL is a key training and problem-solving tool for companies. Simply described, it is a dynamic process that involves a small group of people solving real organizational problems, while focusing on how their learning can benefit individuals, groups, and the larger organization. The emphasis on learning is what makes this process strategic rather than tactical in equipping leaders to more effectively respond to change. AL develops the ability to collaborate, partner, share, and follow as well as lead naturally. In addition to learning how to collaborate, participants experience firsthand the value of being better team and organizational partners. This book demonstrates how AL can quickly and effectively be introduced, implemented, and sustained in any type or size of organization using six key components: a diverse group of four to eight members; an urgent task or problem; a question-driven communication process; implementation of action strategies; a commitment to learning; and an AL team coach. It features useful business case examples that illustrate the power of AL in successfully developing leaders, solving problems, building teams, and transforming organizations. The book is organized in three parts: Part I: Foundations of Action Learning; Part II: Implementing Action Learning; and Part III: Best Practices From the Present to the Future"--Jacket. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2009 APA, all rights reserved).

Michael Marquardt has been helping organizations and world governments revolutionize the way they solve problems, build effective teams, develop leaders and transform themselves into learning organizations. Optimizing the Power of Action Learning puts the "action" in action learning by focusing on the six essential components that make action learning work: the problem, group diversity, a reflective inquiry process, action strategies, a commitment to learning and the participation of a well-trained action learning coach.

Fully revised third edition now available! Put the "action" in action learning with this revised second edition. This revised second edition of the groundbreaking guidebook puts the action in Action Learning, clearly demonstrating how and why this powerful method for addressing today's increasingly complex organizational challenges actually works. From Saudi Arabia to Singapore, Sweden to South Africa, profiles of such Global 100 leaders as GE, Sony, and Boeing tell the story of the power of action learning to create new products, improve service quality, and transform organizational cultures for competitive advantage and sustained success. It includes examples from the governmental and non-profit world, as well as offering up new better questioning techniques and creative strategies for organizational development.

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.

A Strategic Boot Camp for Leadership Development "David Dotlich has worked with top management of the best companies to deliver Action Learning programs for over fifteen years. His insights into how leaders develop and his experience as a coach and executive are captured in this excellent book." --Arnold Kanarick, executive president and chief human resources officer, The Limited Plug into a dynamic leadership development process custom made for today?s rapidly changing, technology-driven business environment. Unlike traditional classroom-style programs, Action Learning engages managers in emotionally intense, team-oriented experiences that directly address the immediate strategic needs of the organization. Here, authors Dotlich and Noel detail the many Action Learning sessions they?ve conducted at Shell, Ameritech, Citibank, and other leading corporations that have used Action Learning to quickly and successfully implement a variety of tactical and quantum change initiatives. Readers benefit from a clearly defined framework they can use to construct an Action Learning program of their own--a program that gives companies the power to re-create themselves by first re-creating their leaders.

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.