Nurturing the H in HR: using action learning to build organisation development capability in the UK Civil Service

Abstract

In the UK, the Civil Service Reform Plan is being implemented with urgency. This requires Civil Service departments and agencies to reform their structures and ways of working in order to deliver effective services in a climate of economic austerity and rapid social and technological change. Historically, Human Resource (HR) professionals have provided services based on the HR Business Partner model which has meant a focus on strategic and operational HR services. As part of these changes, HR managers and other professionals are now required to develop their capabilities in providing Organisation Development (OD) advice to their internal clients. In order to make this happen, the Civil Service's expert OD and Design Service launched an OD Capability Building programme and engaged OD specialists Mayvin to deliver it. The programme incorporates the postgraduate level-accredited Action Learning Question method developed by Dr Richard Hale called, in this context, OD Questions (ODQs). Participants on the OD Capability Building programme are required to complete an ODQ over a five- to six-month period. This entails scoping an OD challenge with key stakeholders, conducting some research and making recommendations for change or implementing such change. The participants work in ‘action learning sets’ and support each other with their problem solving and learning. A final report is written up by each participant leading to the award of postgraduate-level credits. Examples of ODQ areas include: How can I support a newly appointed Director General to align his team to address their challenges at a time of rapid change? How can I help my client department to improve employee engagement? How can I develop my own capability in working as a business partner and adding value alongside my client?

Keywords:

• action learning
• organisation development
• learning organisation
• HR
• human resource development
• civil service
• capability building
• action research
• action learning questions

Notes on contributors

Dr Richard Hale is the creator of the Action Learning Question system and co-founder of Action Learning International (www.al-int.com) an international provider of business-driven action learning programmes. His early career was in Management Development with GEC Marconi Avionics and BSkyB and then in management training consultancy with international blue-chip organisations. A strong advocate of action learning, he is a Professor in Management Development with International Management Centres Association, the business school which exclusively provides action learning-based qualifications, where Reg Revans became inaugural Chancellor. He has worked in a range of commercial business sectors and public service organisations over the past 14 years in providing access to higher education qualifications as postgraduate level for work-based action learning, using the ALQ system. He is widely published and his doctoral research, focused on the dynamics of mentoring relationships led to a literati award. He is based in the UK and currently working there and in Australia and East Africa. He facilitates the largest online network focused on action learning – the Action Learning Forum on Linked In. He can be contacted at [email protected]

Martin Saville is a co-founder of Mayvin (www.mayvin.co.uk), a specialist consultancy with a mission to nurture the human spirit in organisations. Formerly Director of Strategic Planning and Operations at London Business School, Martin is also known for the work he does in developing the knowledge and capabilities of OD teams and practitioners. He is on the faculty of a number of leading OD practitioner development programmes and is a regular conference speaker on OD. From 2005 to 2009, he was a Senior Consultant at the Roffey Park Institute. Martin's early career was spent in opera management and he currently serves as Deputy Chairman of British Youth Opera, the UK's opera training company. He is an Honorary Visiting Professor of the Faculty of Business and Law, part of London Metropolitan University.

Notes

1. The Civil Service Reform Plan, Cabinet Office, HM Government, 19 June 2012.