abstract: This dissertation aims to present an emerging theory of leadership for active learning organizations in higher education by clarifying factors leaders should integrate to facilitate adaptability. The emergent theory is grounded in multi-year mixed methods action research exploring the role of design, delivery, and leadership of a reflective action learning team model on innovation in a higher education setting. Four research methods were employed including document analysis, interviews, observations, and surveys. Data were analyzed using content analysis, process analysis, coding, frequency analysis, descriptive statistics, Cronbach’s alpha, and Wilcoxon signed-rank test. A grounded theory approach permeated all analyses. Research was guided by theories of experiential learning, action learning, and organizational learning, as well as change theory and design thinking. Results revealed that leaders of active learning organization can improve innovation by facilitating reflective action learning teams that are inclusive, empowering, and iterative. Additionally, teams that display more frequent and consistent welcoming, ideating, synthesizing, and mentor seeking behaviors have more innovative outcomes than teams displaying these behaviors less often and inconsistently. This research indicates that employees who participated in these teams gained the skills and knowledge needed to develop innovative proposals for the organization and increased individual innovative abilities at a statistically significant level. This study adds to the existing literature by offering a theory for leadership to promote effective team learning and innovation. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Leadership and Innovation 2020

The subject of my graduation theses is „Proposal and Apply into Practice of a System of Learning Organization“. Because of high competitive conduct in the marketplace and continual progress in all of branches, the continual improving is very important for all companies. Many of workers are often irreplaceable. And company is becoming very vulnerable in the case of his inability or leaving. This problem can be solved by transformation of „a learning organization“. It is the complicated process, when is necessary to change an organization structure, to analyse current working stations and to analyse real organization´s requirements (personal audit). Coessential part is an actual description of working stations, determination and evaluation single worker´s competences and fulfilment evaluation. By establishing „a system of a learning organization“ we can get a target for future and also we put aside a risk so-called „irreplaceable worker“. A practical part is targeted on research. The main instruments are questionnairies and interview. The questionnairies are targeted on worker´s satisfaction, competence and evaluation. Gained information can be used for comparation with the previous research and as a base for a proposal. A theoretical part is targeted on methodology that deals with evaluation of workers and also with components of „a system of learning organization“. It means a methodology of working station´s analyse, determination and evaluation single worker´s competences, methodology 360° etc. The purpose of this work is to propose and apply of „a system of a learning organization“.

The purpose of this research was to provide an initial investigation of the preferences for both technology and learning sources that are available today in the modern workplace at a large financial institution with a national presence in the USA. In addition to the preferences of the participants, the research includes insights about the culture of the learning organization by using the Dimension of Learning Organization Questionnaire (DLOQ) and two preference surveys. The research methods used in this study are categorized as mixed methods and include both quantitative and qualitative methods. This study is nonpositivist and descriptive. It is based on a triangulation design method which is comprised of analysis from data obtained from the DLOQ and preference surveys, as well as semi-structured interviews with several survey participants. The results of the studies provide the foundational information for an extended quantitative analysis.

This thesis is organized in three different parts. In the first part Ericsson’s methods fordeveloping and deploying the existing knowledge are analyzed. In the second part we analyzethe competence build-up for consultants within a technical domain that is constantly evolving.The third part is an evaluation, on an overview level, of a new organizational concept thatEricsson launched. The concept is a way to globally manage knowledge and competencewithin different technical domains. The concept is called Global Competence Center.The method applied was interviews, as a first step to learn about the subject and also forourselves to get to know the organization in which we conducted our research. Interviewswere also used in order to answer our research questions. The employees gave their view onwhat makes learning more efficient. Examples are hands-on, reality based and problemoriented tasks. This was combined with studies of literature and our own experiences oflearning.Our study shows that a combination of different methods for developing and deployingknowledge and building competence seems to be most suitable. This is based on theinterviewees’ experiences and the principles of a theory about adult learning called andragogy.From the interviews, we also received suggestions about work improvements for theconsultants’ work roles. A competence program was developed for the building ofcompetence amongst consultants. The program uses case studies and mentorship as two of themethods, which both apply to the theory of andragogy. / Den här rapporten är uppdelad i tre olika delar. I den första delen analyseras Ericssonsmetoder för att utveckla och sprida existerande kunskap. I den andra delen analyserar vikompetensuppbyggnaden för konsulter inom en teknisk domän som ständigt förändras. Dentredje delen är en utvärdering, på en översiktlig nivå, av ett nytt organisatoriskt koncept somEricsson har startat. Konceptet är ett sätt att hantera kunskap och kompetens inom olikatekniska domäner. Konceptet kallas för Global Competence Center.Metoden vi använde var intervjuer, som ett första steg för att lära oss ämnet men också för attlära oss organisationen som vi utförde vår studie i. Intervjuer användes också för att kunnabesvara våra frågeställningar. De anställda gav sin syn på vad som gör lärande mer effektivt.Exempel är hands-on, verklighetsbaserade och problembaserade uppgifter. Arbetetkombinerades med litteraturstudier och våra egna erfarenheter av lärande.Vår studie visar att en kombination av olika metoder, för att utveckla och sprida kunskap ochbygga kompetens, verkar vara mest lämplig. Detta är baserat på de intervjuades erfarenheteroch principerna av en teori om vuxnas lärande, kallad andragogik. Från intervjuerna fick viockså förslag på förbättringar för konsulternas arbetsroller. Ett kompetensprogramutvecklades för att bygga kompetens bland konsulter. Programmet använder case-studier ochmentorskap som två av metoderna, vilka båda drar nytta av hur teorierna om andragogiktillämpas.

Den här rapporten är uppdelad i tre olika delar. I den första delen analyseras Ericssonsmetoder för att utveckla och sprida existerande kunskap. I den andra delen analyserar vikompetensuppbyggnaden för konsulter inom en teknisk domän som ständigt förändras. Dentredje delen är en utvärdering, på en översiktlig nivå, av ett nytt organisatoriskt koncept somEricsson har startat. Konceptet är ett sätt att hantera kunskap och kompetens inom olikatekniska domäner. Konceptet kallas för Global Competence Center.Metoden vi använde var intervjuer, som ett första steg för att lära oss ämnet men också för attlära oss organisationen som vi utförde vår studie i. Intervjuer användes också för att kunnabesvara våra frågeställningar. De anställda gav sin syn på vad som gör lärande mer effektivt.Exempel är hands-on, verklighetsbaserade och problembaserade uppgifter. Arbetetkombinerades med litteraturstudier och våra egna erfarenheter av lärande.Vår studie visar att en kombination av olika metoder, för att utveckla och sprida kunskap ochbygga kompetens, verkar vara mest lämplig. Detta är baserat på de intervjuades erfarenheteroch principerna av en teori om vuxnas lärande, kallad andragogik. Från intervjuerna fick viockså förslag på förbättringar för konsulternas arbetsroller. Ett kompetensprogramutvecklades för att bygga kompetens bland konsulter. Programmet använder case-studier ochmentorskap som två av metoderna, vilka båda drar nytta av hur teorierna om andragogiktillämpas. / This thesis is organized in three different parts. In the first part Ericsson’s methods fordeveloping and deploying the existing knowledge are analyzed. In the second part we analyzethe competence build-up for consultants within a technical domain that is constantly evolving.The third part is an evaluation, on an overview level, of a new organizational concept thatEricsson launched. The concept is a way to globally manage knowledge and competencewithin different technical domains. The concept is called Global Competence Center.The method applied was interviews, as a first step to learn about the subject and also forourselves to get to know the organization in which we conducted our research. Interviewswere also used in order to answer our research questions. The employees gave their view onwhat makes learning more efficient. Examples are hands-on, reality based and problemoriented tasks. This was combined with studies of literature and our own experiences oflearning.Our study shows that a combination of different methods for developing and deployingknowledge and building competence seems to be most suitable. This is based on theinterviewees’ experiences and the principles of a theory about adult learning called andragogy.From the interviews, we also received suggestions about work improvements for theconsultants’ work roles. A competence program was developed for the building ofcompetence amongst consultants. The program uses case studies and mentorship as two of themethods, which both apply to the theory of andragogy.

This research sought to understand the role of organizational learning and the experience of the use of organizational learning for the development of sustainability culture in life science companies. Therefore, the study utilized a phenomenological qualitative approach to find out the perspectives of life science companies and life science non-governmental organizations (NGOs) about the subject matter. Furthermore, this study was exploratory and inductive and used a combination of research methods (triangulation). It was found that organizational learning creates sustainability awareness and engagement which contributes to the development of sustainability culture. This in turn would lead to the organization becoming a learning organization that focuses on sustainability. Government policies, quality management systems and internal standards serve as factors that create awareness of sustainability issues and encourage life science small-medium enterprises (SMEs) to continuously engage in sustainability business practices. It was found that various learning methods can be used internally and externally to learn about sustainability. However it is important that learning that is done externally or on an individual level be shared with the organization in a group or organizational level. The study acknowledged a heightened awareness for more sustainability focused practices within the operations of life science companies, however the financial constraints negatively influence how they prioritize their actions. It also identified how collaborations with life sciences NGOs help facilitate the implementation of a long-term sustainability vision and strategies into life science companies.

No description available.

ABSTRACTNGOs today meet several challenges due to growing competition and shrinking aid budgets. These demands are something all NGOs need to find strategies to meet. Learning thereby becomes essential for the organizations survival, success and for sustainable development. To meet these demands organizations need to be able to learn and develop. This minor field study is carried out to promote learning by highlighting knowledge and understanding for goals and objectives. SOIR is a non- governmental organization that in their new strategy for development work is supporting the civil society in building their own community based organizations (CBO) in the rural area of Manicaland, Zimbabwe. The organization Mandeya 2 Development was through the support of SOIR registered as a community based organization (CBO) in the spring of 2012. Mandeya 2 development is in its initial stages implementing SOIRs goals, objectives and strategies for operational work. This study has been focusing on the objective: Reduce stigma and discrimination of orphaned and vulnerable children (OVC) whose parents passed on due to HIV related illness by December 2012.The purpose of the study was to analyze staff and volunteers’ knowledge, coherence and perception of the objective and the root causes the objective aim to address, in order to promote the building of a “learning organization”. The result showed that there was a lack of knowledge and understanding for the objective and that the objective was perceived in different ways by the informants. The result further showed that this has consequences for the organizations possibility to learn and also have impact on the motivation, participation and volunteers’ possibility to affect the operational work performed.Keywords: Coherence, Goals, Learning Organization, NGO, Objectives, sustainable development

Syftet med studien är att bidra med kunskap om hur ledare i offentlig sektor arbetar med att organisera för lärande i en strävan mot en lärande organisation för att åstadkomma ständig förbättring och innovation.Studien genomfördes utifrån en kvalitativ forskningsdesign. Sex ledare i en kommunal socialtjänst intervjuades utifrån en intervjuguide med semistrukturerade frågor. Analys av data genomfördes med stöd av principer för kvalitativ dataanalys.Slutsatser som framkom i studien är att ledarna synes utöva ett ledarskap som främjar lärande som kan omsättas i förbättring och utveckling. Genom att bygga strukturer och systematisera för lärande organiserar de för en miljö som är gynnsam för lärande. I intervjuerna anades ett större fokus på ett mer utvecklingsorienterat lärande. Metoder och arbetssätt som ledarna använder sig av för att organisera lärande är olika former av grupper. Viktiga förutsättningar för lärande är utrymme för lärande, framförallt tid, samt en tämligen stabil arbetsgrupp. / The purpose of this thesis is to contribute with knowledge on how the leaders in the public sector are working with organizing learning in the strive towards a learning organization to achieve continuous improvement and innovation.The thesis was conducted with a qualitative research design. Six leaders in the municipal social welfare services were interviewed, based on an interview guide with semi-structured questions. The analysis of data was performed, based on principles for qualitative data analysis.The conclusions from this thesis are that leaders seem to exercise a leadership that promote learning, that can be transformed to improvement and development. By building structures and systematize for learning, the leaders organize for an environment that is supportive for learning. From the interviews, it was indicated that the major focus was on development oriented learning. Methods and ways of working used by the leaders to organize learning are different kinds of working groups. Important requirements for learning are sufficient capacity, especially time, and a rather stable working group. / <p>2022-06-05</p>

Det senaste årets granskning av lärosätens kvalitetssystem som genomfördes avuniversitetskanslersämbetet (UKÄ) visar att även högre utbildning behöver arbeta med sitt internakvalitetsarbete och att lärosätena behöver ta fram arbetssätt och metoder för att genomföra det.Syftet med det här arbetet var att bidra med kunskap om hur arbete med kvalitetsutveckling ser utinom högre utbildning samt att ta fram en modell för att arbeta med förbättrings ochkvalitetsutveckling inom lärarutbildning. Författaren deltog i ett projektarbete sominteraktionsforskare för att ta fram en modell för arbetet med förbättrings- och utvecklingsarbetetinom lärarutbildning. Den här studien har bidragit med kunskap om att högre utbildning idagarbetar med kvalitetsarbetet utifrån de riktlinjer som finns i Högskolelag, Högskoleförordning ochStandards and Guidelines for Quality Assurances in the European Higher Education Area (ESG).Slutsatsen var, att den modell för att arbeta med utvecklingsprojekt som togs fram i projektarbetet,behöver följa dessa lagar, förordningar och riktlinjer som anges i ESG och att arbetssättet imodellen bör vara cykliskt och kan utgå från PDSA. Vidare är slutsatsen att modellen med fördelkan ta utgångspunkt i offensiv kvalitetsutveckling och hörnstensmodellen och att om lärandetinom organisationen sker på alla nivåer kontinuerligt kan modellen stödja arbetet till en lärandeorganisation. Den här studien kan vara av intresse för andra som vill lära mer ominteraktionsforskning samt för lärosäten som står inför att utveckla sitt eget interna kvalitetsarbete. / The latest year's review of the higher education institutions' quality systems carried out by theuniversity chancellor's office (UKÄ) shows that even higher education needs to work with itsinternal quality work and that the higher education institutions need to develop working methodsand methods for implementing it. The purpose of this work was to contribute with knowledgeabout how work with quality development looks within higher education and to develop a modelfor working with improvement and quality development in teacher education. The authorparticipated in a project work as an interaction researcher to develop a model for the work onimprovement and development work in teacher education. This study has contributed with theknowledge that higher education today works with the quality work based on the guidelines foundin the Higher Education Act, the Higher Education Ordinance and the Standards and Guidelinesfor Quality Assurances in the European Higher Education Area (ESG). The conclusion was thatthe model for working with development projects developed in the project work must follow theselaws, regulations and guidelines stated in the ESG and that the working method in the modelshould be cyclical and can be based on PDSA. Furthermore, the conclusion is that the model canadvantageously be based on offensive quality development and the cornerstone model and that ifthe learning within the organization takes place at all levels continuously, the model can supportthe work of a learning organization. This study may be of interest to others who want to learnmore about interaction research and for higher education institutions that are faced withdeveloping their own internal quality work. / <p>2019-06-27</p>