Operational Assessment of Tools for Accelerating Leader Development (ALD): Volume I, Capstone Report

Abstract

This report, in two volumes, describes the operational demonstration and assessment of an innovative toolkit resulting from a research program aimed at enhancing self-development of junior leaders in the Army. The toolkit contains online diagnostic and training tools that build self-awareness, metacognitive abilities, critical thinking skills, and interpersonal skills. Soldiers in units and user juries provided feedback on the tools. The pressures of the operational environment seriously limited the time available to work with the tools. The user satisfaction results indicated the toolkit provides a reasonable mix of capabilities, but completeness remains an open question. The tools appear to be especially suitable for use in pre-commissioning and military education programs. They offer moderately favorable acceptability, learning effectiveness, and value. However, the online learning methods may need modification to accommodate the importance Army leaders place on interpersonal interaction with mentors and peers. The findings, lessons learned, and recommendations can help decision makers, program architects, training developers, and research investigators advance the state of the art for leadership development programs. Volume II, ARI Research Note 2009-09, presents the report's appendices.

Diversity Leadership in the U.S. Department of Defense: Analysis of the Key Roles, Responsibilities, and Attributes of Diversity Leaders

“…Leaders need critical thinking skills to address the increasing complexity of their environments. Indeed, the Army has recognized a need for critical thinking among its officers since at least 2001; as a result, the Army Research Institute has conducted or funded efforts to develop critical thinking methods and tools for the Army (Leibrecht et al, 2009).…”

Preparing Brigade Combat Team Soldiers for Mission Readiness Through Research on Intangible Psychological Constructs and Their Applications: Phase 1

“…As part of the initiative ARI developed a battery of diagnostic tools to assess and enhance self-awareness. Each assessment tool is presented in Table 4 along with what it purports to measure (purpose column) (Leibrecht, McGilvray, Tystad, & Garven, 2009).…”

“…The diagnostic battery above is intended to establish a baseline of self-awareness. The ALD program model for leader growth presents self-awareness as important to the development of critical thinking skills and interpersonal skills (Leibrecht et al, 2009). Further, the model depicts some of the outcomes of enhanced self-awareness, such as motivation for improving, direction for growth, and structure for learning.…”