Organizational Learning at a Midwest Community College. Daniel Campbell, 2024: Strategic Research Project, Nova Southeastern University, Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice. Keywords: organizational learning, quantitative strategic planning matrix, strategic planning, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis This strategic research project was designed to provide Polygon Community College (a pseudonym), a 2-year college in the Midwest, with a research-based plan to leverage organizational learning and consequently improve organizational outcomes. A comprehensive review of the organization’s context and analysis of its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats suggested addressing organizational learning deficiencies would allow the college to make gains in areas such as employee performance, organizational culture, and organizational innovation, and to more effectively achieve its strategic goals in areas like student retention and completion. Review of organizational learning scholarship highlighted four possible solutions that would address the organizational learning deficiencies of the college. Additional research and evaluation using the quantitative strategic planning matrix method led to managerial coaching being selected as the strategy that would best address the organizational learning needs of the college. This approach to leadership engages all organizational managers in coaching practices that encourage the sharing and application of knowledge across teams and divisions. A detailed action plan was developed to induce organization-wide commitment to and involvement with the strategy implementation. The action plan includes maintaining vigilant communication with stakeholders, conducting a college-wide needs assessment, integrating coaching with college performance and technology systems, delivering training for managers, and continuous collection of data for program quality. Managerial coaching shows promise as a high-impact organizational learning strategy to help community colleges advance organizational goals. Additional research would aid the translation of this project to other organizational contexts.
| Date of Award | Aug 1 2024 |
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| Original language | English |
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| Supervisor | Linda Gaughan (Supervisor) |
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