Title: Cultivating collaborative improvement: an action learning approach

Authors: Rick Middel, Timothy McNichols

Addresses: Faculty of Business, Public Administration and Technology, Department of Operation, Organization and Human Resources, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, Enschede, The Netherlands. ' IRCHSS Government of Ireland Senior Research Scholar, School of Business Studies, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland

Abstract: The process of implementing collaborative initiatives across disparate members of supply networks is fraught with difficulties. One approach designed to tackle the difficulties of organisational change and interorganisational improvement in practice is |action learning|. This paper examines the experiential lessons that arise when cultivating collaborative improvement in an interorganisational learning environment. The authors, acting as action researchers, facilitated a practical learning program in an Extended Manufacturing Enterprise (EME). Based on this experience, a practical learning model is offered to promote and facilitate interorganisational change as part of a collaborative improvement process.

Keywords: collaboration; supply chains; action learning; interorganisational learning; organisational change; learning models; qualitative research.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLC.2006.009690

International Journal of Learning and Change, 2006 Vol.1 No.2, pp.229 - 245

Published online: 04 May 2006 *

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