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Purpose: The purpose of this essay is the provision of a conceptual approach for a manager-as-coach to use for instructional purposes with an employee. Using scenistic materials (cases, incidents, stories), the aim of the essay is to assist the practitioner apply a practical and relatively adaptable instructional approach. While it is intended for application with a single employee, the approach, with modifications, may be used in a small group environment. Design/methodology/approach: The methodology was directed to the study of manager-as-coach, application of a class of instructional tools, theories of constructivism and situated cognition and the joint (manager-employee) implementation of an action guide aimed at learning and performance improvement. Review and coordination of these areas resulted in a detailed guide for action. Findings: Use of scenistic materials for instructional purposes adds to the repertoire of tools for a manager desiring to act in a coaching capacity. A step-by-step program of activities is offered for practical application. Created for experimentation and use is a research result-driven practical guide/action plan. Practical implications: The design of the approach expressed requires the manager-as-coach to prepare for instruction and participate in it to the extent that the manager likely contributes to her/his own knowledge and skills in the areas under study. The step-by-step design not only guides the instructional process, it demands that the participants are fully engaged in creating new knowledge, assumptions and examples of practical implementation of what has been learned. Originality/value: Currently, there is little information or research available to guide a manager in a coaching capacity in the use of situation-based (scenistic) instructional materials. The approach offered in this essay not only considers employee knowledge apprehension but also aims at performance improvement in a particular context. Additionally, the approach presented requires dialog, negotiation and focused application, all of which may help the participants improve the quality of their relationship.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to use recent empirical research and theory to help explain how a manager may assume a coaching role to assist employee learning and growth. In the coaching role, performance appraisal and other information may be carefully used as feedback to reinforce growth mindset learning in the service of employee development and engagement in work tasks and in the organization. Design/methodology/approach: Aided by search devices (Psych Articles, Google Scholar, etc.), this study explored several distinct areas of information to include: manager-as-coach, performance management/appraisal, engagement with work, mindsets--fixed and growth, feedback and self-regulation of learning. Across these domains, this study searched for linkages useful in guiding managers to assist employees to learn and change. Findings: Coaching employees to embrace a growth mindset and one's self-regulation of learning has been expressed as a means to improve performance, resiliency, persistence, ability to cope with change and motivation. Practical implications: Explicit, grounded recommendations are offered to assist managers to guide employees to embrace a growth mindset and take charge of their own learning and development. Originality/value: Through examination and coordination of streams of research and theory, the study are able to make reasonably clear some avenues for a manager to attempt to positively influence employee confidence, learning, success and growth.

Purpose: This paper aims to present a detailed explication of a learner-centered instructional approach for adults labeled case-based modeling (CBM). The approach is an example of integrative pedagogy aimed at expertise development and is an extension of other instructional approaches, namely, problem-based learning (PBL) and case-based learning (CBL). Design/methodology/approach: The design of the paper contains several integrated components to include: an explanation of the needs and characteristics of the adult learner, comparisons of CBM with both PBL and CBL, a complete theory grounding of the method, a detailed expression of the entire CBM method (phases and steps) for explanation and replication purposes, linkages of CBM with performance, and an empirical test of the CBM method with a sample of employees. Findings: First, the CBM method is an extension of the well-researched methods of CBL and PBL. The script preparation and implementation phases of CBM easily could be appended to either CBL or PBL. Second, the empirical test of the CBM method demonstrates that it may be a positive, efficient tool for education/training with employees, although no significant differences were found in work performance comparisons of CBM-trained employees with traditionally trained employees. Research limitations/implications: The empirical examination has some limitations to include: relatively small sample sizes, lack of demonstration of clear linkage between measures of training performance and measures of job performance, and variations in working conditions of participants. Originality/value: The CBM approach offers to HR practitioners and persons involved with training an efficient yet comprehensive method. The method makes use of script development for the implementation of various interventions, which stimulate performance improvement and development of expertise.

Purpose: Much has been written about self-regulated learning (SRL) (including mind-sets) in psychology and education, but little research is found in the HRD or training literature regarding the stimulation of this learning. This paper aims to present a practical training tool, performance templates (P-T), to demonstrate how a line manager may assist employees improve their problem-solving skills as well as stimulate SRL. Design/methodology/approach: Presented are literature reviews and assessments of the areas of: line manager in coaching role, SRL theory and the phases of SRL in action. Following is a detailed explanation and demonstration of the P-T method. Finally, the efficacy of PT is examined and constraints are noted. Findings: Demonstrated in the paper is how a line manager may function as the key actor in assisting employees to become more effective self-regulating learners and problem-solvers. The method presented can stimulate employee motivation and help employees to internalize self-regulating learning processes. All of this should help employees become more growth-oriented, self-confident and goal-directed participants in organizational life. Originality/value: Rather than simply discuss what SRL is about, this paper provides an effective tool, P-T, for use in the stimulation and direction of SLR. The use of the tool also helps organization participants to achieve progress on some current problems.

Purpose – The purpose of the paper is to examine employee-helpful behavior that is voluntary and given freely without anticipation of reward or recognition. The authors have labeled this voluntary behavior in all its forms as v-hob, or voluntary helpful organizational behavior. They seek to define and explain the behavior and attempt to discern measures that will help to discover individual’s predispositions to offer v-hob. Design/methodology/approach – The authors examine current theory/constructs and offer a detailed empirical study in identifying measures that may provide some means for assessing employee predisposition toward helpful, voluntary behavior on the job. The format of the work is reflective of a typical research study with hypotheses. Findings – The authors learned that, within limits, it is possible and practical to identify direct measures to discover one’s predisposition toward v-hob. They also have identified regression equations that use several variables to help predict one’s predispositions toward this valued behavior. Practical implications – This study brings to the manager and/or human resource (HR) practitioner the substance of contextual performance, that is, behavior that goes beyond task performance in the support of individual and organizational goal attainment. This research demonstrates several means by which trainers, managers and HR professionals may assess an employee’s or a recruit’s predisposition to offer voluntary, helpful behavior. Originality/value – This research, unlike most of the empirical, academic research in the domain of contextual performance, speaks directly to practitioners. The authors' definitions, explanations and study clearly demonstrate the practical features of contextual performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]