Development Training - Using the Outdoors in Management Development

Abstract

This paper argues that although the increased use of outdoor components in management courses has led to a resurgence of interest in the approach it remains, nonetheless, mistrusted and misunderstood by many trainers. The authors consider this to be due to the interplay of several factors which include the nature of media coverage of particular courses; the character of the existing literature; and the indiscriminate use of certain 'labels' by those active in the field. In an attempt to clarify the nature and scope of the overall approach the authors discuss relevant aspects of their own experience as providers of outdoor Develop ment Training programmes, the distinctive characteristics of which are defined, and compared and contrasted with Adventure Education and Outward Bound.