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Meeting the development needs of owner managed small enterprise: a discussion of the centrality of action learning

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  • Allan Gibb

Abstract

This paper explores the role that action learning might play in micro and small enterprise development. It is divided into two parts. The first part focuses upon the distinctive characteristics of smallness and ownership and their implication for management development processes in the owner managed firm. In particular the impact of personal values, ways of doing things and distinctive forms of learning are explored. The argument points to the emotional underpinning of the ways in which the organisation is developed and run. The challenges to action learning are then reviewed. The second part focuses upon the ‘institutional’ factors that stand in the way of effective approaches to owner manager learning and in particular how they impact on the way that knowledge is delivered and pedagogies applied by business education organisations to the small firm. It is argued that the pervasive corporatism of the approach does much to explain why owner managers are reluctant to pay for existing training and education offers. The barriers that confront action learning approaches are examined. Overall it is concluded that action learning is central to effective owner manager learning, that there are distinctive skill challenges for action learning facilitators but that there need to be major changes in institutional norms.

Suggested Citation

  • Allan Gibb, 2009. "Meeting the development needs of owner managed small enterprise: a discussion of the centrality of action learning," Action Learning: Research and Practice, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 6(3), pages 209-227, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:taf:alresp:v:6:y:2009:i:3:p:209-227
    DOI: 10.1080/14767330903299415
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    Cited by:

    1. Prommer, Lisa & Tiberius, Victor & Kraus, Sascha, 2020. "Exploring the future of startup leadership development," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 14(C).
    2. David Higgins & Kelly Smith & Mohammed Mirza, 2013. "Entrepreneurial Education: Reflexive Approaches to Entrepreneurial Learning in Practice," Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Emerging Economies, Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India, vol. 22(2), pages 135-160, September.
    3. Giuseppina Passiante, 2016. "Editorial," International Journal of Innovation and Technology Management (IJITM), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 13(05), pages 1-12, October.
    4. Ruwan Abeysekera & Dean Patton & Andrew Mullineux, 2015. "Co-Production in Business Counselling in Microfinance Setting: A Conceptual Approach," Journal of Enterprising Culture (JEC), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 23(03), pages 299-319, September.
    5. Nick Clifton & Robert Huggins & Brian Morgan & Piers Thompson, 2015. "An appropriate tool for entrepreneurial learning in SMEs? The case of the 20Twenty Leadership Programme," Local Economy, London South Bank University, vol. 30(5), pages 534-556, August.

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