1. Experiential Learning to Manage Complexity ly
Experiential Learning to Manage Complexity  
Clark Callahan - Tuck School of Business Joseph Pistrui, Ph.D. - IE Business School Chantal Delys - McCombs School of Business

2. Trends in the Custom Market
There is increasing complexity in our business…
Clients are smarter and expectations are higher
Increasingly competing against consulting firms
Blend of “hard” and “soft,” with a focus on soft

3. Four Trends in Experiential Learning
Action learning / Company projects
Virtual/OTJ learning
Personal leadership transformation
Focus on customer

4. 1. Action Learning / Company Projects
Example: Toy, game and media company
Example: Company Projects:
Fast-growing high tech company &
Global electronics company

5. Elements of Action Learning Design
Topics selected and sponsored by senior management team
Action-learning sessions in conjunction with live program focused on strategy and leadership
Highly visible to senior management team
Each team has an internal coach to help with problem-solving and team dynamics; Tuck trains coaches
Global teams comprised of members from North America, Europe and Asia
Strong senior management support and involvement
Several million dollars of consulting value realized…

6. Action Learning Continuum
Senior management selects/defines
Work teams
‘Experts’ assigned
Large budget allocated
Team outputs are results/end-product focused (e.g., consulting report with recommendations)
Team may be responsible for implementation
Team selects/defines
Learning teams
‘Novices’ assigned
Little or no budget allocated
Team outputs are learning focused (e.g., report-out on team process, individual learnings, etc.)
Little expectation that team will implement
Successful projects often mix components, e.g. senior management defined projects + ‘novice’ learning teams

8. 2. Virtual/OTJ Learning
Virtual segment as a prep for classroom teaching

9. The Learning System IN THE CLASSROOM THROUGH COACHING ON-THE-JOB
actions
outcomes
IN THE CLASSROOM
Research has shown that executives learn in different settings: traditional class-room, coaching and on-the-job learning. Therefore, an effective learning design must integrate multiple methodologies to ensure its impact on delegates’ behavior at their work place and thereby maximize the contribution to the corporation’s success in the market place.

10. CONTENT DESIGN EXPERIENCE
Learning Framework
CONTENT
DESIGN
EXPERIENCE
CONENT:
Educator Network:
collaboration with Luis Solis?
ALA?
Ludic?
IP Development:
Amadeus?
MPOV:
Digital Convergence?
Non-Market Strategy?
others?
DESIGN
Design Collaboration
xxx
Innovative Methods
Next Practice Learning

11. LEARNING METHODS VIRTUAL LEARNING AND WEB 2.0
Range of Learning Methodology
Case studies
Simulations & role plays
Experiential exercises
Action learning
Expert speaker
Company visits
Psychometrics
Virtual campus
E-modules
Synchronous & asynchronous group work
Web & video conferencing
Pod casting
Games
Incorporating a variety of learning methodologies increases delegates’ engagement, fosters information sharing, and facilitates application of concepts to delegates’ daily work.
LEARNING
METHODS
VIRTUAL LEARNING
AND WEB 2.0 11

12. Virtual Viewpoint©

13. Virtual Segment Preceding Class
Readings, cases and assignments directly related to the participants’ work & workplace
Creates a more homogenous class: common vocabulary and base knowledge
Completed at workplace and (possibly) during work time
Highly organized so that participants get engaged: assignments, timeline, regular teleconf times, etc.
Helps create a sense of learning community

14. 3. Personal Leadership Transformation
Crewing Exercise

18. Crewing Take-aways are not what participants expected
Memorable – builds culture
Team activity: bonding & trust
Debrief is very important

19. 4. Focus on Customer Increasingly a client requirement:
“Where is the customer in this experience”?
How do we respond?
Include clients in assessments (e.g., 360s)?
Bring a client into a program?

20. Experiential Learning: Benefits & Challenges
Very engaging
High impact and transformational
More unpredictable, less controlled
Customized
Solutions
High value-add