Purpose: This paper aims to demonstrate how the Nordic model, featuring highly regulated trade union-employer collaboration, has enabled the building of learning organizations through a co-generative learning model involving both practitioners and action researchers. Design/methodology/approach: A literature search on the Nordic sociotechnical…

The article presents and illustrates the learning journey (LJ)--a new management development approach to inter-organisational learning based on observation, reflection and problem-solving. The LJ involves managers from different organisations and applies key concepts of action learning and systemic organisational development. Made up of…

This paper, based on a narrative of one of the authors, explores management reality where a chosen strategy developed into a different direction than expected. The authors offer an insight in a manager's daily struggle, where power, gossip and conflict can influence the strategising process. The plans and strategic ambitions chosen at the outset…

In a previous ethnographic study (Sebrant, 2000) a social constructionist view of how social identity is produced among professional groups in Swedish healthcare was developed. Looking at the workplace as an important environment for identity construction suggested that these processes were conditions for learning. The purpose of this paper is to…

The purpose of organization development (OD) is to improve an organization's effectiveness in making decisions and changes and to reach the full potential of its personnel. Objectives of OD and essentials for successful programs are listed. Definitions of essentials and how they add to the effectiveness of OD are presented. (Author/BEF)

Describes characteristics of a questioning culture in organizational development. Addresses questions on leading; learning; and information access as leverage. Lists fundamental employee questions that exist in every organization, and describes two positive effects that occur when these fundamental questions are recognized and become the overall…

The two papers report a conceptualization of service management and two idealized models for its implementation. Actual experience guided the development of the concept and models. Data are reported regarding the status of service management after technical assistance from the Philadelphia Geriatric Center to the State Office and area agencies.…

Illustrates five criteria that can be used to identify the "best" managers in any organization: business results, employee attitudes, peer confirmation, upper-level manager appraisal, and customer satisfaction. Examines what top-performing managers say and do, and concludes that their thinking processes and their specific sets of skills…

Suggests that human resources development professionals need to change their performance improvement focus and philosophy to embrace the importance of building on strengths and managing weaknesses. Identifies five characteristics indicative of employees' strengths. Describes seven strategies to help employees minimize their weaknesses while…

Analyzes the institutionalization of small-group activities in Japan, Sweden, and the United States. Includes a reference list. (MD)

Organizations are looking at ways to manage their information resources. Both the capture and the use of data created by the organization have come under scrutiny. Part of the concern comes from their desire to enhance the business process and part comes from the explosion of data available to any organization. In this context the role of…

Two St. Louis universities adopt management techniques from business. (Author)

Two organization development consultants describe and evaluate the two basic consulting methods, the process-consultation model and the doctor-patient model, and provide "readiness" criteria checklists for both the client and patient models. They state that each consulting approach has its place, depending on situational factors. (MF)

The systematic four-step process introduced in this article lays the basic groundwork in helping an organization link all its programs and initiatives to its strategic goals. Discusses the definition and purpose of performance measurement; elements of a global performance system; and building a global performance measurement system. (AEF)

The outlook for improving work life quality in unionized, mature organizations is examined in the context of the Jamestown, New York, community-based labor/management committee. Ten lessons from the experience of the Jamestown Committee are offered. (Author/JMD)