Performance Improvement "Groups"
Bookclub
The virtual Performance Improvement Bookclub meets quarterly to discuss books on performance improvement, human resources management, organizational development, instructional design, or related fields. The Bookclub is a free professional development opportunity and we are always welcoming new members. The members vote to decide on which books we will read and then the discussions take palce 3 months later on a conference call. Podcasts from previous discussions are posted below.
If you are interested in joining the Bookclub .
Podcasts of Previous Bookclub Discussions
February 3, 2012 - The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande.
October 28, 2011 - Hard Facts, Dangerous Half-truths, and Total Nonsense by Pfeffer and Sutton.
August 4, 2011 - Delusions of Gender by Cordelia Fine (Bonus: NPR interview with the author)
March 28, 2011 - Human Competence by Thomas Gilbert
January 26, 2011 - Turning Research into Results by Richard Clark and Fred Estes
November 4, 2010 - Shopclass as Soul Craft by Matthew Crawford
August 5, 2010 - The ROI of Human Capital by Jac Fitz-enz
April 30, 2010 - Structured On the Job Training by Ron Jacobs
February 2, 2010 - Building Expertise by Ruth Clark (sorry, no recording available)
NEW -- Research Articles Club
Based on the success of the Bookclub, we are also organizing an articles group that will read 6 research articles each year and then discuss the implications of the findings to the practice of performance improvement on a conference call.
Article topics will include: organizational development, leadership and management, personnel selection, training and instructional technology, performance appraisals, succession planning, feedback, and others. Regardless of the industry you work in or your experience with research, you will personally and professionally benefit from exploring what the recent scientific literature tells us about best practices for improving performance.
If you are interested in joining the Article Group .
Podcasts of Previous Articles Group Discussions (click on title to listen to the discussion)
December 2011 - Eriksson, T., & Ortega, J. (2006). The adoption of job rotation: Testing the theories. Industrial and Labor Relations, 59(4), 653-666. (pdf of article)
October 2011 - Dikkers, J. S. E., Jansen, P. G. W., de Lange, A. H., Vinkenburg, C. J., & Kooij, D. (2010). Proactivity, job characteristics, and engagement: A longitudinal study. *Career Development International, 15*(1), 59-77. (copy of article)
July 2011 - Luthans, F., Norman, S., Avolio, B., and Avey, J. (2008). The mediating role of psychological capital in the supportive organizational climate— employee performance relationship. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 29, 219–238. (pdf of article)
May 2011 - Arthur, W., Bennett, W., Edens, P.S., & Bell, S.T. Effectiveness of training in organizations: A meta-analysis of design and evaluation features. Journal of Applied Psychology, 88(2), 234-245. (pdf of article)