Management development through self managed learning: the case of West Sussex County Council

摘要

The Advanced Management Development Programme (AMDP) was introduced by West Sussex County Council, UK, in 1999. The programme runs in partnership with the University of Chichester, which offer a Post Graduate Diploma in Strategic Management on completion of the programme. Since the commencement of the programme, 134 West Sussex County Council Managers have taken part with a further 14 managers from other Local District and Borough Councils. AMDP is a County Council initiative led by the Chief Executive. It provides a framework for individual participants to design and achieve their own individual learning plan and by doing so contribute to continuing organisational development. The prime purpose of AMDP is to develop managers of the County Council. The programme route operates over an 18-month period and works in two distinct phases. This programme is unlike any other Post Graduate Awards Scheme delivered at a university in that it does not consist of taught modules and is not descriptive in its curriculum. The programme is structured to ensure that each student forms a tailor made plan of learning that fits with his or her individual needs and matches the requirements of their role. It is designed to accommodate the different needs and learning styles of each student, working within a disciplined framework. The philosophy of the programme is to encourage planning, reflection, review and action, aligning it to Kolb's learning cycle. As mentioned earlier the programme works in two phases.