A Retrospective Evaluation of a Wilderness-Based Leadership Development Programme

Abstract

The Leadership Project (LP) in Cape Town, South Africa, is a wilderness-based leadership development programme that targets young people from diverse backgrounds. The aim of this study was to evaluate the LP, focusing on process and perceived outcomes. Document analysis and key informant interviews were used to evaluate programme reach and implementation process. Semi-structured interviews and focus groups with past programme participants ( n = 46) were conducted to assess perceived outcomes. Study findings indicated that the LP offers a relevant programme and has wide reach through its range of client agencies and organisations. Qualitative findings highlighted that participants' positive experiences and views of the LP came about through the interaction between ‘self’, ‘others’ and the ‘environment’. Participants' perceived intrapersonal and interpersonal outcomes of the LP aligned with the LP's intended outcomes. Mechanisms of perceived outcomes — leaders, programme activities and programme setting — influenced and facilitated the reflective process. This reflective process (strongly related to the intrapersonal outcome of increased self-awareness) appeared to underlie the interpersonal outcomes of the LP. Therefore, a significant finding of this study was that awareness of self is a key characteristic of leadership development. The nature of perceived outcomes was underpinned by the changing of perspectives, and the LP was described as either starting or contributing to a process of change, or as a life changing experience. No major improvements to the LP were suggested, but rather participants' responses affirmed the content and delivery of the programme. These findings indicate that a study with a relatively small scope can provide insight into the perceived outcomes of a leadership development programme, particularly one that caters for participants from a diverse range of cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. The findings have elucidated the manner in which inter personal outcomes are underpinned by intra personal outcomes, and the complexity of these outcomes in terms of assessment.