David E Gray

• BSc(Econ), MA(Ed), MSc, PhD PGCert FRSA
• Professor at University of Greenwich

Based on fieldwork conducted at the outset of the current economic downturn, this paper examines the experiences of a group of unemployed managers and professionals in their fifties. Following a review of existing literature, the authors use a narrative methodology to explore how these people incorporate the experience of job loss into their self-i...

The above quotation taps into something within the human condition that is potentiallyat least, very powerful. We, human beings, have aspirations; flying might be just one ofthem! But the central point here is that “the majority of people” often comply or silencetheir aspirations. In some contexts around the world, silence and compliance could bese...

The concept of communities of practice has become increasingly influential in management literature. Yet, many scholars regard the term as too homogeneous and lacking in empirical support. Our study explores the Silver Academy, a project involving over 100 unemployed and self-employed managers over the age of 50, who came together with the purpose...

Traditional organizational learning settings operate as in-class training sessions where knowledge is transferred from one who “knows” to mostly passive recipients. Such designs portray learning as essentially individual, cognitive and a-contextual. However, in recent years, the emergence of leadership development through outdoor activities, MOCCS...

Although theoretical and applied work has emphasized the critical role of coachee personality in the coaching process, little empirical research has identified specific personality traits as moderating variables. Drawing from social-psychological theories, we examined coachees’ ability to modify self-presentation, a major facet of the self-monitori...

Gaining physical access to potential respondents is crucial to human resource development (HRD) survey research. Yet a review of the HRD, human resource management and bestselling business and management research methods texts in the USA and UK reveals that, even where the process of gaining access is discussed and its cruciality stressed, inside a...

Until recently, there has been little published systematic empirical research into business coaching. This article reports on a systematic, critical review of 111 published empirical papers investigating business coaching theory, processes, and outcomes. The present article identifies a significantly larger body of empirical research than covered i...

This book is the ideal companion to doing practical research in business and management. Designed especially for students and researchers in business it guides you through each step of the research process and demonstrates what it means to conduct quality research in today's global context.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore how employees in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) practise and view workplace learning at three different life-cycle stages. Design/methodology/approach – It is a qualitative study using a sample of 30 Hong Kong SMEs classified into inception, high-growth or maturity stage, from which firm...

For more than 20 years now, organizations all over the world have increasingly been using coaching in the hope of fostering the development of the organization and of their employees (Garvey, 2011; Segers, et al, 2011). The recourse to and acceptance of coaching as a vehicle for individual and organizational development may be associated with the d...

p>In the world of business and management, the practice of workplace learning is deemed important for firms to survive or stay competitive. However, firm characteristics such as business priorities, management styles, and limited internal resources and capabilities are always organizational factors that affect how firms may practice workplace learn...

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to relate the practice of organisational learning in small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to the organisational life cycle (OLC), contextualising the differential aspects of an integrated relationship between them. Design/methodology/approach – It is a mixed-method study with two consecutive phases. In...

Purpose: This study seeks to relate the practice of organisational learning (OL) in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to the organisational life cycle (OLC), contextualising the differential aspects of an integrated relationship between them. Design/methodology/approach: It is a mixed method study with two consecutive phases. In Phase I, 30...

What do we mean by professionalization? • Pathways towards professionalization • Ethical codes and professionalization • A critical analysis of coaching and professionalization

In the U.S. and Australia, agriculture is consistently ranked as one of the most hazardous industries. The cost of injuries and deaths on Australian farms is significant, estimated to be between AU$0.5 billion and AU$1.2 billion per year. Death and injury in agriculture also place a significant financial and social burden on the family and friends...

This study focuses on the ways in which SMEs use and benefit from social capital. Social capital is created through both offline activities such as networking events, and online activities including social media use. Offline and online networking activities are not mutually exclusive alternatives. Successful SMEs network with a number of different...

This paper reports on a global survey which sought to identify the extent to which coaching is a distinct occupation, or task, performed within a portfolio of HR or other roles. The study also sought to ascertain the extent to which coaches identify with coaching as a profession and explored how their professional identity (or multiple identities)...

This paper reports on a global survey that sought to identify the extent to which coaching is a distinct occupation, or task, performed within a portfolio of HR or other roles. The study also sought to ascertain the extent to which coaches identify with coaching as a profession and to explore how their professional identity (or multiple identities)...

Whether acting as independent (external) or in-house (internal) coaches, all face the challenge of building their skills, knowledge, credibility and self-confidence, as well as creating or reshaping a sense of professional identity. So, how is the journey towards becoming a coach personally, socially and professionally experienced? How are coaches...

The economic crisis of 2008/9 has increased unemployment amongst managers, particularly older managers, a group empirically under-researched. This longitudinal study assesses the efficacy of executive coaching for a group of unemployed professionals who participated in an intensive coaching programme aimed at reintegrating them into the economy. Re...

Kingston Smith LLP is a leading adviser to entrepreneurial businesses. Most of our commercial client businesses are owner managed. We have been developing relationships with our clients for over forty years and understand how entrepreneurs think and the stages in which their businesses develop. As a result, in addition to audit and accounting work,...

This research examines the learning experiences of general managers (GMs) in the hospitality industry, a sector much neglected in terms of research into management learning and human resource development. Our research focused on four large hospitality organizations (two hotels and two contract catering companies) and adopted an approach that integr...

Within the UK there are approximately 4.5 million small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) providing 13.7 million jobs equating to over half of the private sector workforce in 2011 (Department of Business Innovation and Skills, 2012). Such SMEs are considered one of the driving forces of the market economy (Philip, 2011) and a major source of econ...

Based on longitudinal fieldwork with unemployed managers and professionals in their 50s, the article examines the meaning of job loss to these people and charts their subsequent efforts to restore their lives. The article identifies core similarities in their experiences and discerns different narrative strategies through which they have tried to m...

There are approximately 4.5 million businesses employing fewer than 250 people in the UK, providing a total of 13.7 million jobs, equating to half the private sector workforce in 2011. However, while such Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are of importance, it is their durability that can be considered of greater significance. The precarious natu...

The purpose of this study was to specify a set of attributes, identified as important precursors to coach selection. Executive coaching has grown exponentially, but there have been few studies as to the efficacy of coaching, including the factors that influence a manager's choice of coach. This study sought to identify these factors. The 45‐item, o...

generic ltsn centre Learning and Teaching Support NetworkDavid Gray is Head of Work Related Learning at the University of Surrey. His role includes the management of a degree programme in Work Based Learning aimed at people in companies and other organisations who want to update their management skills. The programme uses non-traditional assessment...

Purpose This article aims to explore dimensions and tensions in the relationship between theory (usually produced by academics) and practice (the domain, normally of practitioners) in human resource development (HRD). Design/methodology/approach The paper examines, from a conceptual perspective, the nature of mode 2 research, where knowledge is ge...

The term ‘profession’ derives from the Latin word ‘profiteor’ meaning to profess. Professionalisation, is the process whereby a gainful activity moves from the status of ‘occupation’ to the status of ‘profession’. Claims for professional status and the emergence of standards and awards are typical of the journey that occupations make (or attempt to...

While a growing number of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are making use of coaching, little is known about the impact such coaching has within this sector. This study sought to identify the factors that influence managers' decision to engage with coaching, their perceptions of the coaching ‘journey’ and the kinds of benefits accruing fr...

O livro conduz o leitor do início ao fim do processo de pesquisa. Ajuda o leitor a compreender os muitos meios pelos quais é possível coletar, validar e interpretar dados. Entre os tópicos abordados estão: como selecionar projetos e questões de pesquisa adequadas; como decidir sobre quais são as estratégias mais eficazes para o desenho de pesquisa;...

Based on fieldwork conducted at the outset of the 2008 economic downturn, this paper examines the experiences of a group of unemployed managers and professionals in their fifties. Following a review of existing literature, the authors use a narrative methodology to explore how these people incorporate the experience of job loss into their self-imag...

Coaching has enjoyed substantial commercial growth, but empirical support for its effectiveness is limited. Nowhere is this more so than in the matching process between coach and coachee. This study describes the results from a coaching programme in which coachees were asked to reflect on and justify their choice of coach. Initial, qualitative resu...

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine conceptual and theoretical links between intuition and coaching; investigate accomplished coaches' practical experiences of intuition; identify skill set of an intuitive coach; discuss implications of findings for coaches', HRD professionals', and line managers' learning and development. Design/metho...

The introduction of alternative energy requires collaboration between consumers, energy suppliers and regulators. A fundamental question is, will consumers engage with this agenda and, in particular, will they trust the institutions sufficiently to enable the collaborations that are needed. Present indications suggest that consumers have little tru...

This article offers an original model for the professional development of coaches that integrates models of coach supervision with mentoring – the supervisor-mentor. Many coaches are new to the profession and may lack experience of managing their own business. It is likely that these and many other coaches could benefit from the support and guidanc...

Purpose The introduction of new technology presents many challenges for risk communication. The technology often involves potential hazards and unintended consequences, hence the public must be engaged and consulted. However, this engagement can generate unfounded concerns and unnecessary distress. This paper aims to address how one can achieve the...

""Doing Research in the Real World introduces readers to all the essential aspects of the research process and will be an essential guide to any student on a research methods course. David Gray's clear and accessible introduction starts by setting out best approaches to the design of appropriate research tools, and leads the reader into issues of...

Purpose – The Asian business community has been noted for its contribution to the UK economy. This vibrant sector of the small to medium‐sized enterprises population serves to illustrate diversity in terms of spanning sectors including manufacturing and services, entertainment and fashion, hotels and property, food and pharmaceuticals. This paper s...

The introduction of new technology often leads to strong public concerns about potential hazards. There are situations where unfounded concerns obstruct highly beneficial developments, but, equally, there are situations where unintended consequences of new technology are overlooked and individuals are harmed. Clearly there are advantages in improvi...

Although recent research indicates a growing engagement among coaches with supervision, many coaches still pursue their professional practice without the support and guidance of a supervisor. Also, while the organisations that purchase coaching are clear that the coaches they hire should have supervision, they are unclear as to what forms that supe...

The aim of this article is to explore how the practice of critical reflection within a management learning process can be facilitated through the application of reflective processes and tools. A distinction is drawn between reflection as a form of individual development (of, say, the reflective practitioner) and critical reflection as a route to co...

Coaching is emerging as a major professional development and performance enhancement process. There are, however, few professional development programmes aimed at coaches themselves, and no internationally recognised qualification or professional standard. Much of the literature on coaching has been written by those with a human psychology perspect...

This article reports on an investigation undertaken in six European countries on the theme of adults' involvement in the cultural life of their communities. A particular focus was placed on the role of keyworker and how such individuals provide a link between museums and communities. The survey team gathered information from museums on the nature a...

Social science, including research into special educational needs, purports to be objective, and much of special needs research falls into the empirical-analytic paradigm which regards human affairs as containing measurable, law-like qualities to be identified and manipulated. It is argued, however, that this may be a flawed assumption and that all...

The aim of this study was to test whether manipulative and sketching activities could influence spatial visualisation ability in engineering students. A pre-and post-test quasi-experimental design was employed using two intact classes of civil engineering students from Malaysian polytechnics. The treatment group (n = 29) manipulated objects and lea...

Action learning is a central part of many work-based learning programmes, and, to be effective, requires the learner to engage in reflective learning. This article looks at how the reflective learning cycle can be integrated with action learning processes to create the dynamic of enhanced business effectiveness and individual understanding. Through...

The article describes a major study of the activities of keyworkers (mediators between museums and their public) within the context of museums' contribution to lifelong learning and to overcoming cultural exclusion. Field studies were undertaken in the UK, Ireland and Sweden based upon live projects with keyworkers who were subsequently interviewed...

The Internet is growing at a rapid pace, and with it, the number of learning programs delivered via the World Wide Web. There is a concern, however, that many of these programs are simply the delivery of traditional learning materials, with inadequate consideration given to the principles of instructional design. This research took one example of s...

The Internet is growing at a rapid pace, and with it, the number of learning programs delivered via the World Wide Web. There is a concern, however, that many of these programs are simply the delivery of traditional learning materials, with inadequate consideration given to the principles of instructional design. This research took one example of s...

The paper demonstrates how the Internet can be used to enable people to become aware of, and develop their learning potential. It also examines some of the problems of the Internet and shows how as it becomes more commercial it can also exclude, as well as include, those who seek to learn.

Computer-assisted learning (CAL) may provide a valuable additional resource for Teachers of the Deaf. Both a CAL program and a workbook were designed to teach an area of syntax, namely, question formation. A representative sample of hearing-impaired children was selected, half of whom received the CAL program and the other half the live, workbook t...

In the United Kingdom, the Modern Apprenticeship scheme is financed and managed largely by Training and Enterprise Councils (TECs) which are regionally based. The article reports on a study carried out amongst a sample of TECs which examined their financial commitment to Modern Apprenticeships, and their views on the responsiveness of employers and...

Since the 1992 Further and Higher Education Act, colleges of Further Education have been funded by the Further Education Funding Council (FEFC). Now that these arrangements have been in operation for over four years, it seemed appropriate to evaluate their impact. A college of further education known to have significant funding problems was selecte...

The role of the internet in promoting education through and in museums.

This article proposes that prototyping would enhance the quality of both the computer-based training courseware development process and the final product. Too often a communication gap exists within a courseware design team or between designers and program sponsors or end-users. Prototyping uses common software utilities as design tools to more cle...

Introduction Executive coaching is becoming one of the fastest growing interventions in the professional development of managers, particularly managers in large organisations. Unfortunately, while small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) constitute the sector where most new jobs in the UK are being created, there is scant evidence that managers in...

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