Developing an Action Learning Plan

We all have that wish list project. You know the one.

It is that thing that would be great for your organization, but for some reason, it gets pushed down the ‘to do’ list or shuffled to the corner of your desk.

It is that thing that is forgotten because of the day to day activities that consume your time. But if only…

If only you had a little more time to think about it. If only you had a little more guidance to bring it to reality. If only you could have a space to sit down and just work on it without distraction.

If you have one of these projects, then it is likely that you have the makings of a Rozsa Arts Management Program (RAMP). Action Learning Plan (ALP).

The ALP provides the opportunity to apply program learning to a real, relevant, and timely issue in your organization. Early in the RAMP program participants are tasked with selecting a challenge in their organization. Then they draw from the tools provided in the classroom sessions to develop a solution to that problem. Along the way, there are two opportunities for one-on-one mentoring to help participants clearly articulate the challenge, reflect on the benefit to the organization, refine their proposed solution, and direct them to additional resources that will improve their project.

As a RAMP mentor, it is very fulfilling to see how participants are able to apply business concepts to their organizations. Participants will often begin with a broad, nebulous idea that together we refine into actionable activities through questions and dialogue. Sometimes participants realize that their audience is different than they first thought, or the activities that they are spending the most time on, are generating the least benefit for their organization. These ‘a-ha’ moments lead to real, positive change for the participants and their organizations and are most likely to lead to an actionable change in their organization.

This learner-centric approach helps participants to apply the program content, assess their own knowledge gained, and drive action in their organization. Over the last 8 years, RAMP participants have designed digital journey maps for ticket sales, created a strategy to manage event bookings, and reorganized a gallery to generate more sales from its storefront, just to name a few.

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Scott Radford (RAMP Academic Director) joined the marketing faculty at Haskayne in 2007 after completing his Ph.D. at the University of Missouri-Columbia. He holds a B.E.D.S. in Architecture (Dalhousie, 1995), a B.A. in Philosophy (University of New Brunswick, 1998), and an MBA (University of New Brunswick, 2003). He worked in Montreal for several years where he was the Director of Advertising for R. Nicholls Distributors - the largest law enforcement distributor in Canada, and then as the Operations and Marketing Manager for Collins Safety - a distributor of safety footwear and equipment.

The Rozsa Arts Management Program (RAMP) has been offered through Haskayne Executive Education at the University of Calgary since 2012. Over the last 7 years, RAMP has become the corner stone of arts management within the Calgary landscape. This unique certificate program is designed to address the specific needs of arts managers through customized content that is both relevant and practical while providing an important opportunity for peers to network and learn together. The program culminates with participants presenting their Action Learning Plan (ALPs), which are designed to move their work forward in an impactful and measurable way.

Haskayne Executive Education has been incorporating the ALP process in many of its programs, to provide an opportunity for individuals to practically apply program content, assess knowledge gained and drive action through critical thinking and effective communication.