Citation
Cunningham, I. (2006), "Editorial", Development and Learning in Organizations, Vol. 20 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/dlo.2006.08120faa.001
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2006, Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Editorial
One theme in this edition is about challenges to some received wisdom and, indeed, a level of debunking. For instance, Ewart Keep’s clear-sighted analysis of public policy on training shows how much sloppy thinking there is about training policy by governments and other policy-making bodies. One simple issue that has been challenged often in this journal is the confusion between training and learning and the over-emphasis on the former to the detriment of a clear analysis of the latter.
Keith Denton debunks other assumptions about learning and development in his piece on “It’s the system that matters”. His emphasis on the need for a systemic approach is also reflected in Ben Bennett’s piece on personal development plans.
Paul Schempp provides a fine justification for the role of experts. His analysis counters critics who suggest, pejoratively, that an expert is just someone who knows more and more about less and less.
The final piece in the authored section of the journal features a reproduction of the declaration on learning that 13 of us produced some years ago. It is published here in full for the first time in a journal because it still seems relevant and it provides further challenges to received wisdom in organizations about learning. Another reason for publishing it here is that I hope it may stimulate people to react to it and perhaps offer a response to it for publication.
The review articles pick up elements of the debunking and challenging dimension, led off by “Can leading be learned?” and “Teach how to learn and learn to teach”. Both raise the issue of the role of leaders/managers in promoting learning and the former piece especially challenges the role of trainers by suggesting that perhaps existing leaders should deliver learning programs not trainers.
“Online learning vs print learning” provides research evidence that does not give unqualified support for e learning and “The bottom line of executive coaching” debunks the notion that you cannot measure return on coaching investment.
Ian CunninghamUniversity of Sussex.E-mail: ian@stratdevint.com