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Showing posts with the label training and development

When Opportunities Dry Up-Income Inequality in America

Income inequality is a hot topic that is becoming more troublesome every year as the gap in incomes continues to grow. Fed Chair Janet Yellen discussed on October 17th the growing problem of income inequality and its potential impact on the American Dream. She elaborated on how child resources, higher education, entrepreneurship, and inheritance influence a family’s ability to raise their position in life. Without ensuring that there is sufficient mobility within society there are risks to the founding fabric of opportunity within the country. Those who are not wealthy are finding it difficult to save money or pass that money onto future generations. At the same time, those at the top of society are discovering that it is not only easier to earn more money but also save that money for their children. Additional time without change seems to aggravate the problem. Janet Yellen discusses four possible solutions that include early education intervention, affordable higher ed

Using Career Oriented Academic Knowledge to Raise Military Functionality

The nature of the military is changing and so are the training needs. Dr. Rutherford moves into a discussion of the needs of training in the Australian Army and the specific training at the Royal Military College (2013). His article focuses on the enhancement of specific career skills to support the command and control functions. The complexity of military operations requires the development of different types of talents that may not fit exclusively into command and control learning style.  Modern warfare is different than it was in the past. It requires higher technology, logistical systems, abstract thinking and greater functionality. Command and control functions are based in the learning of skill of the position above and below in combat functions. This focus in the military is necessary but also may be forcing those with the relevant skills out of the military and thereby decreasing knowledge retention.  Combat is the main function but the ability to maintain combat i

Leading and Learning as a Cure for Pathological Management Styles

Learning organizations are likely to be more successful in developing new methods to compete on the market. Research by Michie & Zumitzavan (2012) furthers the argument that those organizations that foster learning and are managed by learning leaders are more successful than those who are reactive and focused on pathological styles. Learning leadership is progressive, open-minded, humanistic, and goal orientated that results in higher firm development and profits.   Leadership and learning are two components that come together to foster development. The way in which leaders learn has an impact on how they act as administrators. Those that engaged in all four learning styles action, thinking, feeling and assessing others are more capability of using multiple leadership styles such as challenging, inspiring, enabling, modeling, and encouraging (Brown and Posner, 2001).  Learning is one way in which organizations can continually renew themselves versus accepting the fate

Book Review: Performance Improvement Pathfinders

Performance Improvement Pathfinders: Models for Organizational Learning Systems offers an excellent overview of models for organizational intellectual development.   A number of industry experts and doctors have come together to create this fundamental book that every aspiring manager should read.   Topics include the importance of performance improvement, human performance models, language, and performance management. Managers and business leaders will find important information in this work as they seek to raise the performance and profit margins of their organizations.  Readers will be brought through important concepts such as the early work of B.F. Skinner and Susan Markle, the concept of behavioral engineering, five principles of employee performance, management revolution, performance improvement models, environmental factors, assessment, language and workplace interventions. As you can tell from the general concepts covered the book provides a strong overview of basic