How can action learning be used as part of an overall approach to changing the culture of an organisation? This article describes some of the work being done by managers in South Cambridgeshire district to build a more empowered and engaged organisation following the appointment of a new chief executive tasked with raising standards in an…

In public services delivery, action learning is increasingly employed in the hope of improving capacity to address complex, multi-casual and "wicked" social issues to improve the lives of citizens. Yet the understanding of how and why action learning might have potential for enhancing organizational or systemic capability rarely goes…

The article examines a relatively new tool to increase the effectiveness of organizations and people. The recent development and background of Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is reviewed. Basic assumptions of the model are discussed. Implications for departments and divisions of student affairs are analyzed. Finally, suggested readings and workshop…

The authors present the argument that evaluation as currently practiced is failing the needs of the social sector, if the goal is to help organizations achieve their mission. Three case studies are presented in which evaluation played a key role in the development of a learning culture within the organization. Each case highlights the positive…

Discusses the critical issue emerging in the implementation of change strategies designed to improve the effectiveness of human service delivery systems. Describes the process by which change was introduced and implemented in a human service organization. Suggestions, theoretical guidelines, and a model are provided for future interventions.…

It is not unusual to hear students at the Cesar Chavez Learning Center say that if they were not able to go to this kind of school, they would have given up on formal education a long time ago. Housed in a strip mall a mile and a half from the U.S.-Mexican border, the Chavez center allows students to attend school for a half day--morning or…

This publication describes the Providing Organizational Development Skills (PODS) program, a series of eight instructional systems that together are intended to provide educators with the knowledge, skills, and sensitivities to organize and manage educational systems in more relevant, humane, effective, and efficient ways. The eight component…

This document, one in a series developed to provide technical assistance to 22 Long-Term Care Gerontology Centers, describes the current administrative and structural phenomenon of these centers. Precedents useful in assessing both the current climate and actual prospects for development of long term care centers are cited. The first section…

In the first of a three-part series, the authors examine the origin of the organizational development movement, instrumented team learning seminars for managers, their experimental programs for industry at various locations, the development of the "managerial grid," management by objectives, behavior modification, and other approaches to…

A Management Development and Training Program has been developed by the Higher Education Management Institute to improve the overall functioning of higher education organizations. The Institute believes management development and training can: add to individuals' knowledge and skills, increase awareness of management processes and systems;…

The documents enclosed in this report provide a comprehensive and systematic review of the progress made in developing a network organization capable of supporting nanoscience education for the public on a national scale. There is a logic to the studies that were done and to the reports that are included in this notebook. The following are the…

Purpose--The aim of this article is to examine network-based learning and discuss how participation in network can enhance organisational learning. Design/methodology/approach--In recent years, companies have increased their collaboration with other organisations, suppliers, customers, etc., in order to meet challenges from a globalised market.…