The authors describe the use of an action research approach in designing a management development scheme which successfully commands the support of line management. The client was a large company, which had previously operated management development on an ad hoc basis, but had come to see a more...

To practically help managers improve both their own performance and that of the organisational unit, a “Back to Basics” formula is useful hinging on training responsibility, individual and unit motivation, and clarification of both management and unit roles. The author's experience of a...

The central idea of action learning — that for any organism to survive its rate of learning must be equal to or greater than the rate of change in its environment — has stood the test of time, and is used as a reason for selecting and launching action learning processes by management. Little...

The traditional approach to management development — based on identification of talent and a planned career structure — will have to adjust to shrinking job and promotion opportunities. But organisations still need to plan for management succession. Four approaches are suggested, including...

The development of a measure of corporate culture is reviewed. A three factor model focused on how managers motivate performance emerged from repeated factorings. Scores are reported for seven organisations. Both frontal assaults and flanking manoeuvres for shaping effective work cultures are...

A life insurance firm undertakes a major programme to integrate management development with organisational development as a change strategy to impact on all levels of employees. The underlying objectives — improved planning, team effectiveness, resource utilisation, open communication — lead...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to draw attention to the range and depth of sustainability issues at their points of impact with company experience, and to pilot an illustration of how they could be imaginatively yet critically approached for management development purposes....

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to address the relationship between public sector practitioners and academic providers in the design and delivery of management development programmes. What is the added value of HEI involvement in management development and does this intervention...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to address the effects of a unique leadership programme, four years after its delivery: in a Dutch penitentiary organisation. This intervention was initiated because of a felt lack of safety in an organisation that was characterised by steep hierarchy,...