Computer-Assisted Learning and the Dissemination of Organisational Research

A computer-assisted learning package has been developed in an attempt to tackle some of the difficulties of disseminating research findings into organisations - such as people's preconceptions and any limitations in perspective that might arise from their roles. It is based on a learning model of dissemination in which existing knowledge was seen as instrumental in facilitating or impeding the acceptance of new knowledge. The package uses several different strategies to convey a number of concepts, such as self-organisation, which were found in a preceding study of the BT field-engineering organisation. All the sequences are inductive in nature, taking people from concrete events to abstract explanations. Given that most of the concepts are controversial and unintuitive, the package is probably best used to support face-to-face dissemination rather than replace it. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]