The paper examines the benefits claimed for action learning at individual, organisational and inter-organisational levels. It goes on to identify both generic difficulties in evaluating development programmes and action learning specifically. The distinction between formative and summative evaluation is considered and a summative evaluation…

The international community has identified a positive link between good governance and economic development. There is an increasing appreciation of the effective role that local policy research organizations (PROs) can play in providing evidence-based policy recommendations as the basis for sound legislation and in assessing the efficacy of…

In this paper, academic developers from universities in three countries explore underlying assumptions about what we as developers do and why we do it in relation to evaluating development programs. Through addressing three questions, key ideas emerge that highlight what is often overlooked in day-to-day practice: the fact that academic…

Describes a mentoring program that matched senior managers with high-potential people. Steps include matching mentors and proteges, meeting with participants, implementing the program, and evaluating the program. (JOW)

Describes the evaluation process as it was applied at the Life Office Management Association (LOMA)-the first organization to have a nationally conducted adult education program evaluated. Information about other noncollegiate sponsored programs for college credit is also provided. (ABM)

A summary of the State Committee report on Finnish adult education outlines principles and guidelines on which planning for program development should be based. Nine topics include: objectives, concepts, policy aims, functional background, system evaluation, organizational development, pedagogic development, financial and social support, and…

To further economic and social development, Tanzania is expanding adult education programs, formulating goals, and creating effective organization, administration, and coordination through local control. An historical overview describes the establishment of committees and adult education centers. An assessment of present performance discusses…

The Cumberland Valley Girl Scout Council is funded primarily by the United Way of Middle Tennessee. Approximately 5 years ago, the United Way of Middle Tennessee adopted an "outcome-based investment model" whereby agencies receive funding based on their ability to specify and monitor program outcomes based on genuine client and community…

This document contains three papers from a symposium on learning organization practices. "Learning Lenses of Leading Organizations: Best Practices Survey" (Laurel S. Jeris) shows that successful learning organizations view learning initiatives through multiple lenses with a clear, sustained focus on strategic outcomes. "Dimensions…

This document contains four papers from a symposium on organization development and change. "The Effectiveness of Total Quality Management: A Response to the Critics" (Douglas H. Smith, Ralph G. Lewis) identifies four effectiveness principles: customer satisfaction, continuous improvement, speaking with facts, and respect for people. "Fast Cycle…

This document contains the viewpoints of five providers of education and training of adults at British institutions on the subject of which indicators should be used to measure the quality of performance. According to the representative of the Unit for the Development of Adult Continuing Education (Powell), measures applied to adult education have…

A 6-year study of outdoor-based management training (OMT) programs used traditional evaluation methods and new methods designed specifically for these unique programs. A survey of 1,000 training directors indicated that this type of training was very controversial. The next step was to use traditional training and organizational behavior…

This document contains four papers from a symposium on evaluation in human resource development (HRD). The first paper, "HRD Evaluation as the Catalyst for Organizational Learning" (Hallie Preskill), argues that HRD practitioners must stop considering evaluation a periodic event focused on a narrow set of variables and begin viewing it…

A study investigated the use of training needs assessment (TNA) by training and development practitioners in business and industry. It allowed for an assessment of both real TNA (practitioners' knowledge, observation, and experience) and ideal TNA (the literature and experts' opinions). A literature review focused on the concept of TNA,…

This publication shows step-by-step how trainers may use self-organized learning (SOL) to achieve real and lasting change within an organization at all levels. Each of the eight chapters begins with an "agenda board" outlining the contents and ends with a section featuring suggested activities for developing the skills. An introduction…