ERIC Number: ED391004
Record Type: RIE
Publication Date: 1995-Sep
Pages: 11
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Research on the Effectiveness of Outdoor Management Training.
Wagner, Richard J.
A 6-year study of outdoor-based management training (OMT) programs used traditional evaluation methods and new methods designed specifically for these unique programs. A survey of 1,000 training directors indicated that this type of training was very controversial. The next step was to use traditional training and organizational behavior evaluation methodologies to explore the impact of a 1-day ropes course on group and individual behaviors. Evaluation work was based on Kirkpatrick's (1994) four levels of evaluation: reaction, learning, behavior, and results. Two types of behavior were evaluated through a Likert-type questionnaire: individual and group. Results indicated a significant improvement in the overall functioning of the work group but no significant changes in individual behavior. Some participant variables found to influence the effectiveness of outdoor programs were as follows: intact/nonintact work groups, volunteers/nonvolunteers, gender composition of groups, supervisor attendance at the program, indoor/outdoor, and the facilitators. The evaluation was expanded to use a control group, open-ended questions, focus group interviews, a structured on-the-job observation, and participant journals. Evaluations of programs in other countries produced evidence that the programs had an impact on the overall culture of the organization. Two issues for the future were identified: the need to certify facilitators and the need to look at the underlying conceptual framework. (Contains 10 references.) (YLB)
Publication Type: Speeches/Meeting Papers; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Note: Paper presented at the World Conference of the International Federation of Training and Development Organizations (Helsinki, Finland, September 11-14, 1995).