St. Helier NHS Trust
The achievements of the St Helier national health service hospital trust in the
UK - the first company to embark on a fourth consecutive MBA course with IMCA -
clearly illustrate the many potential benefits of organizational learning within
the framework of an enterprise school of management.
The innovative learning courses designed by IMCA with St Helier used management
development as a motor for change. Through the medium of workplace projects, the
courses enabled and empower consultants, doctors, nursing professionals, and
clinical and development management personnel from various hospitals within the
Trust to work together, building relationships and developing appropriate
managerial skills. Courses completed have not only delivered more effective
managers, but also resulted in a measurable return on investment in both
qualitative and financial terms.
The success of the first three courses was confirmed by the trust’s decision
to introduce a fourth. In this, associates take action learning MBAs, Diplomas
and Certificates, widening the range of employees undertaking management
courses. At interview, some confessed that they had not written a report for
over thirty years! The first action learning MBA course alone brought annual
efficiency savings in excess of £2 million. Perhaps even more importantly,
given the nature of a health service trust and the need to win and retain
clients, the organization also reported significant quality improvements in
service to customers in terms of both efficiency and effectiveness. An
evaluation of benefits to associates and the trust is undertaken after each
course has been completed.
Nigel Sewell, the CEO of the trust observes:
“The action learning MBA course is about far more than achieving a degree. It
is an extensive personal development course which helps those involved to become
far more effective in every aspect of their own working life — and to be
better members of teams. It has the power to transform individuals and
organizations they work for.”
Projects and tasks covered included the following: