Title: Managers as workplace learning facilitators

Authors: Anoush Margaryan; Colin Milligan; Allison Littlejohn

Addresses: Caledonian Academy, Glasgow Caledonian University, 70 Cowcaddens Road, Glasgow G4 0BA, Scotland, UK ' Caledonian Academy, Glasgow Caledonian University, 70 Cowcaddens Road, Glasgow G4 0BA, Scotland, UK ' Caledonian Academy, Glasgow Caledonian University, 70 Cowcaddens Road, Glasgow G4 0BA, Scotland, UK

Abstract: This exploratory, interview-based study (n = 29) elicits activities carried out by managers in support of employees' learning and surfaces similarities and differences in the ways these activities are perceived by novice, experienced and mid-career workers. Analysis suggests that managers provide a wide variety of types of learning support, ranging from hands-on support on operational issues, structuring individual development programmes and advice on learning opportunities, to coaching, career advice, counselling and being a role model. The perceptions of novice, experienced and mid-career professionals are compared and contrasted, tentative patterns identified and a typology of managers' learning facilitation activities proposed. The results suggest that to enable managers to facilitate workplace learning effectively, a broader range of competences and skills should be considered when training managers.

Keywords: workplace learning; managers; learning facilitation; managerial facilitation; typology; employee learning; learning facilitators; learning support; competences; skills.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHRDM.2013.055397

International Journal of Human Resources Development and Management, 2013 Vol.13 No.2/3, pp.206 - 223

Received: 19 Mar 2012
Accepted: 06 Nov 2012
Published online: 19 Jul 2014 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article