-- [ From: Lynda Rogerson * EMC.Ver #2.5.3 ] --
This (what people expect to FIND on this forum) is an interesting
dilemma.....and one that I think deserves a little exploring. As I
understand (and of course i could be wrong....) a great number of people
have a set of assumptions and expectations about the purpose of the list
..
1) ".. a way to learn about and get involved in
> innovative management education, especially in a university setting."
I
To my way of thinking there is absolutely no reason why this can't
happen. Many of us work in a university setting and are working on
innovative ways for creating a 'learning environment" rather than just a
"teaching" effort. But I do believe that it takes those who are
interested in this topic to INITIATE the discussion; complaining about
what is available without contributing to the design of the environment
shows a lack of empowerment (I don't know too many professors who
perceive themselves as being unempowered!!) Taking charge of our
education is the first step toward learning.
2) "Lately this forum has become more of an exchange on consulting
techniques and tools. I know that to a certain extent that can be
called management education and development, but not far enough to be
central to what some of us thought we were getting in a listserv."
Again, if you want to have other topics than consulting techniques and
tools, Introduce them!! There is no reason why we can't have two, three
, four threads going on at once. Discussions in a list serve
environment are not meant to be linear. With over 700 people on board,
not every topic will be timely to every person. If a topic is MISSING,
INTRODUCE IT!!
3. There is some good stuff here, but is there going to be enough good
stuff here for those of us who are not consultants?
What is "good stuff"??? Are you looking for some authors to read? Are
you looking for a new way to teach management and leadership in human
resource development? Are you looking for a strategy for developing
your dissertation statistics?
As a professor at a university AND a consultant, I cannot see how
exchanging information between the academic world and the business world
can be anything else BUT enlightening!! How else are we going to know
in what context to frame our theories, to help our middle adult students
and young adult (those who might also be working in those business
environments) engage their learning molecules in a meaningful way???
Again, if something is missing, POSE THE QUESTION!!
4. he joined so he can get info to pass to his clients. *I* joined to
be a better management educator, and no, students are not clients in the
same sense organizations are. Whats it going to be? Can this list serve
us both?
I don't see why not....there is ample air space!! There is ample time.
We all have a delete button and we all claim to be interested in
learning...cyberspace is non-linear--you can carry on many conversations
at the same time and in different places!!!
In what way are students not clients in the same sense that
organizations are? The students at my university are considered
"customers." The students at my university demand that they be taught
those theories, practices, and techniques that will enable them to
achieve in their careers. The students at my university pay my salary.
Each of my students comes to my class as each of the participants in my
organizational interventions comes to class: with preconceived notions
about a topic, with some good information, some rather "interesting"
perceptions about the topic, with significant gaps in their education;
with a goal of "getting through" the course in the most efficient way
possible, and so on.
My job as a professor or as a consultant is to examine where my
"client/student" stands in relation to a need or a learning challenge
and then to assist him/her in finding ways to learn it in the most
efficient manner possible.
My students often bring me significant issues from the "front" that add
to the learning in our class. Last term, for instance in a strategic
planning course in the health administration dept , we had people from
Tricare, the CEO of a Home Health Care delivery service, the director of
a nursing home, and so on. All fo these people were working on their
Master's degree in Health Care Administration. Do they not deserve the
best that we academics can offer?? Do they not deserve to be treated
with the same respect and deference that our clients are treated with??
And perhaps, there is significant crosstraining that is the bottom line
of both management education and management development.
Also, I apologize to whomever I borrowed the statements from. In
catching this thread midway today, I am not sure if it was Gary or
someone else. But, they were good points and helped me to make mine as
well. So thank you for your willingness to share.
Lynda Rogerson, Ed.D.
hxbg65a@prodigy.com
www.lynco.com