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Suggests that there are many dilemmas facing the aspiring learning organization and true commitment to its principles is a way of integrating the false dichotomy of “concern for the task” versus “concern for the people”. Each organization’s journey in learning endeavour will be different. How to understand, release and apply the powerful pragmatism of the learning organization is the key to success. Begins by exploring some key concepts based on action research and studies into the learning organization. Describes a model of learning culture, an associated learning culture survey and how this translates into a flexible programme of organizational development. Concludes by considering how this methodology may be posited as a useful investigation, analysis and measurement tool within an overall framework of organizational development.

Ask a manager what she/he does. She/he will probably tell you about functions or processes such as planning, organising, budgeting, and controlling (Fayol 1949).

This article introduces the “Investors in People (IIP) Small Business Handicap Hurdle Model”. The model represents a significant outcome of a survey carried out within small organizations in the north west of England during 1996. The survey was a preliminary phase of a major study conducted over a period of four years. The model offers both a conceptual integration of survey conclusions and also an empirical tool for application in a broader context. Findings about the appropriateness and acceptability of the IIP standard and framework in small organizations are reported. An overview of the IIP standard itself is presented.

This chapter focuses on the problematic relationship between heavy metal and gender politics. While metal may be deemed as being an ‘alternative’ subculture, metal still ‘uses’ women in the same way as ‘normal’ society. Despite the nature of metal as counterculture, women’s images and morality are often inverted but not subverted and it is this nuance that we wish to explore: for example, the use of Mary, Mother of God, in ‘Amen’ by black metal band Behemoth, where though her image is a challenge to convention, she is still ‘used’ as emblems for male political ideology. In the textuality of heavy metal music, women appear as mothers (both good and bad), fetishised whores, mother earth and sexualised virgins. Where modern open sexuality is ‘praised’, anything less so is mocked. Though this ‘praise’ may come across as positive, it is nevertheless still ascribing morality/immorality/virtue to women’s bodies in a way that is not done with men. In this discussion, we will use examples of texts from metal bands who reference women, imagery associated with band merchandise as well as comments from the performers themselves (such as Dee Snider’s approval of the lyrics of ‘We’re Not Gonna Take It’ being associated with the Women’s March on Washington) to investigate the place of the female body in this cultural representation. By using textual critical analysis, we show that women in metal are still having morality written on their bodies, bringing to light the debatable nature of metal being deemed as ‘alternative’ when it comes to gender.