Book review: Action Learning for Change
Media mogul / 19 January 2012
Butler and Leach's book includes lots of examples and case studies.
Lynne Butler and Nigel Leach’s Action Learning for Change is a useful reference guide for managers hoping to implement change, says Kaye Saxton-Lea and Christine Pearcy
Leach and Butler’s book delivers exactly what the title promises – a useful guide to applying action learning in order to bring about change – and is filled with plenty of practical examples.
The book is broken down into nine short, accessible chapters. Though you’ll find much about action learning here, the majority of the content is centred on how managers can action change.
There’s a good mix of text and graphics, which makes it easy to read and aids our understanding of the subject, while the metaphors help bring the content to life. Throughout the book the authors provide clear case studies that allow us to relate the concepts to a variety of business and public service environments.
Comparisons are made between action learning, coaching and face-to-face training, and four options for facilitation are compared, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Kaye Saxton-Lea and Christine Pearcy
Questions to consider are posed constantly, helping to show how you can apply action learning in your own organisation.
Comparisons are made between action learning, coaching and face-to-face training, and four options for facilitation are compared, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Particularly helpful chapters include measuring the impact of action learning and return on investment, working with key people to build a business case, and how action learning can make a difference.
The workable templates are engaging, and there are sample presentation and programme ideas that show a blended approach to action learning.
The book is likely to become a very well-thumbed reference for using action learning in training and in facilitating managers to implement change in their organisations.
VERDICT: 4/5
Action Learning for Change by Lynne Butler & Nigel Leach is out now from Management Books 2000, £14.99.
See the latest issue of Edge magazine to read an alternative review of the book.