Business driven action learning: a powerful tool for building world-class entrepreneurial business leaders
Business driven action learning: a powerful tool for building world-class entrepreneurial business leaders
Horan J. Organization Development Journal (USA), Autumn 2007 Vol. 25 No. 3, Start page: 75, No. of pages: 6
Purpose – To report an executive development initiative by Walt Disney Asia-Pacific. Design/methodology/approach – Contends that most executive development practices do not produce deserved results, believes that executives learn more from job experience than from training events, and documents that Disney Asia-Pacific moved away from program- to experience-based development and job rotation. Explains that the experience-based initiative was based on action learning that combines leadership and team development with solving actual business problems, defines action learning as intellectual, emotional and/or physical development that requires participants to be involved in real, complex business issues, but points out that the methodology can be chaotic and present difficult challenges. Entitles the initiative Integrated Leadership Development(ILD), gives the principal components of ILD as problem solving, and strategic and systems thinking, and states that all candidates participate in a three-day problem-solving workshop. Accepts that in action learning participants can be overwhelmed with work, and underlines the need to allow time for learning and critical reflection, stressing the entrepreneurial aspects of ILD, and the entrepreneurial learning fostered by action learning. Outlines examples of the tasks and accomplishments of teams involved in ILD, refers to delays and disruptive events hindering completion of the initiative, and concludes with lessons learned and the author’s reflections on the benefits of being an internal consultant. Originality/value – Support for experiential learning.ISSN: 0889-6402Reference: 36AY678
Keywords: Organizational development, Executive development, Walt Disney Company, Career development, Human resource management
