TY - JOUR
T1 - Sector level analysis of management development: the case of Scottish local authorities
AU - Gibb, S.
AU - Knox, L.
PY - 2001
Y1 - 2001
N2 - Studies of management development (MD) can be pursued at company, sector or national levels. "Sector" studies of MD are quite rare, despite providing a potential natural "laboratory" in which a variety of approaches to MD can be studied. The research here was concerned with MD in local authorities (LAs). It is based on a survey of MD policies, methods and practices in Scottish LAs, supplemented by case studies of five LAs. The analysis of this particular sector demonstrates a variety of approaches to planning for and providing MD. These are discussed with reference to a typology of MD "rationales". The broader issues of the usefulness of, and problems with, sector studies of this kind are considered. They do offer a potential "natural laboratory" for comparative analysis, useful for exploring theories about MD; but there are practical difficulties with combining the survey and case study analysis involved.
AB - Studies of management development (MD) can be pursued at company, sector or national levels. "Sector" studies of MD are quite rare, despite providing a potential natural "laboratory" in which a variety of approaches to MD can be studied. The research here was concerned with MD in local authorities (LAs). It is based on a survey of MD policies, methods and practices in Scottish LAs, supplemented by case studies of five LAs. The analysis of this particular sector demonstrates a variety of approaches to planning for and providing MD. These are discussed with reference to a typology of MD "rationales". The broader issues of the usefulness of, and problems with, sector studies of this kind are considered. They do offer a potential "natural laboratory" for comparative analysis, useful for exploring theories about MD; but there are practical difficulties with combining the survey and case study analysis involved.
KW - local authorities
KW - management development
KW - united kingdom
UR - http://openurl.ingenta.com/content?genre=article&issn=0262-1711&volume=20&issue=8&spage=714&epage=730
UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/EUM0000000005828
U2 - 10.1108/EUM0000000005828
DO - 10.1108/EUM0000000005828
M3 - Article
SN - 0262-1711
VL - 20
SP - 714
EP - 730
JO - Journal of Management Development
JF - Journal of Management Development
IS - 8
ER -