Reflection as a mediator of management learning in non-governmental organizations

Abstract

The studies involving the field of management learning have emerged to fill a gap between theory and practice in education and management development and cover various approaches and theoretical perspectives in order to understand the factors and the learning process of managers. The reflection is one factor that can facilitate the learning. This study aims to identify the role of reflection as a mediator of managerial learning in the ONG´s (Non-governmental Organizations) context. To support the development of research, we sought to draw a picture of the universe of ONG´s and on the linkages between learning and reflection. The research uses a qualitative approach, and was conducted with managers of sixteen ONG´s located in northeast Brazil, working in several areas. The survey was conducted from semi-structured interviews and data analysis aimed at identifying patterns and connections that emerged from the reports of experiments using discourse analysis. The results of this study indicate that reflection takes the role of mediator when to widen our understanding of situations, learn from mistakes and criticism and decision making. The managers surveyed reflect on action and reflect in action in their daily practice. A reflection-on-action improves decision making and contributes to the pursuit of self-knowledge. Since the reflection-in-action occurs in daily practice. Reflection as a mediator of learning managerial influence not only on learning content (what), but in the process (how) and its amplitude (relevance and scope). One of the proposed study is to assist managers of ONG´s to reflect: on their experiences and learning processes, about the role of sociocultural context in their personal and professional development; on the dynamics of relationships and, on his role as an agent of organizational and social change.