This paper explores the role that action learning might play in micro and small enterprise development. It is divided into two parts. The first part focuses upon the distinctive characteristics of smallness and ownership and their implication for management development processes in the owner managed firm. In particular the impact of personal…

The paper explores critical issues for HRD practice from a parsonian framework across the HRD legs of organizational development, adult learning, and training and development. Insights into the critical issues emerge from this approach. Identifying successful transfer of training to be critical for organizational, group, and individual success.…

A team of three organizers and a panel of five experts representing scholars and practitioners from multiple disciplines participated in an innovative session that explored performance at multiple levels in organizations. The session objectives were as follows: (1) raise participants' awareness of multilevel approaches to the study of…

This document consists of three papers presented at a symposium on the learning organization moderated by Roger Miller at the 1996 conference of the Academy of Human Resource Development (AHRD). "Creating a Learning Organization: A Case Study of Outcomes and Lessons Learned" (Laura L. Bierema, David M. Berdish) reports a study…

This document contains four papers from a symposium on informal workplace learning. The first paper, "The Impact of Actor Strategies and Work Type on Learning Projects: A Multiple Case Study" (Rob F. Poell), reports on a multiple case study of four learning projects in two organizations that demonstrated that individuals' strategies and the type…

This document contains four symposium papers on learning organization issues. "How Action Learning Builds the Learning Organization: A Conceptual Analysis" (Michael Marquardt, Ty Alexander) is a systematic examination of four subsystems of learning organizations (learning dynamics, organization renewal, people empowerment, knowledge…

Human resource development (HRD) uses a wide variety of theories from multiple disciplines and fields of study to create its own unique field of scholarly practice. As with any field, however, we tend to get comfortable with familiar theories and theorists and fail to explore other possible sources of wisdom. One scholar whose work is worthy of…

Traditional theories of learning and the teaching practices resulting from them are reviewed. Most theories of adult learning are based on research into the learning of children, which in turn is founded upon theories of animal learning. These theories, formulated under laboratory conditions, are artificial at best--and not complex enough to apply…

This book contains 22 papers on reflective learning in practice. The following papers are included: "Our Purpose" (Ann Brockbank, Ian McGill, Nic Beech); "The Nature and Context of Learning" (Ann Brockbank, Ian McGill, Nic Beech); "Reflective Learning and Organizations" (Ann Brockbank, Ian McGill, Nic Beech);…

This report examines how adopting the shared services model of human resources (HR) services delivery can help businesses achieve better alignment between their HR service and specific business needs. Chapter 1 provides background information on the research project underlying this report, which included the following data collection activities:…

These four papers are from a symposium on integrating learning and performance. "Identifying the Skill Requirements and Performance Needs of Small Manufacturers" (Julie A. Furst-Bowe) reports a survey to identify needs of small manufacturers in northwestern Wisconsin and to determine whether a university-based performance improvement…

This handbook introduces a new training model that reflects the complexity of organizational life, changes in the human resources (HR) function, and the need to involve line management. Part I outlines the new context in which training must be delivered. It discusses the changing organizational requirements for training and the changing position…

This document contains four papers presented at a sympoisum on structured and unstructured learning moderated by Catherine Sleezer at the 1996 conference of the Academy of Human Resource Development (AHRD). "Designing Experiential Learning into Organizational Work Life: Proposing a Framework for Theory and Research" (Cheri Maben-Crouch)…

This compilation of the knowledge and experience of 49 training and development professionals is a guide to the most important aspects of training and development (T&D), ranging from the environment in which it operates to detailed suggestions as to how it can be done. Contributors' notes appear first. Part 1 on the world of T&D contains seven…

This document contains four papers from a symposium on strategic human resource development (HRD). "Examination of the Use of Scenarios as Learning and Decision-Making Tools for Human Resource Development" (Roger F. Miller, Susan A. Lynham, Joanne Provo, Jeanne M. St. Claire) explores the potential value of scenarios as learning and…