Innovation in Executive Development

I'm on a quest to find what is new and innovative in Executive Development. I have to admit it is not an easy search. So with that in mind I was quite pleased to see this report done by Ashridge on Innovations in Executive Development:

http://www.ashridge.org.uk/website/IC.nsf/wFARATT/Innovation%20in%20Executive%20Development:%20A%20case-based%20study%20of%20practice%20in%20international%20business%20schools/$file/InnovationInExecutiveDevelopment.pdf

It's long but if you are interested start backwards and review the cases. Each one is interesting in its own right but I wondering what is really new. There are new twists like using social networking software design to create learning groups but I don't see the innovation.

There is a lot of referencing of Experiential Learning and John Dewey and David Kolb. There is a clear view that building dissonance and challenge into programmes is important. Certainly, there is an overriding view that what happens between participants is just as important as what knowledge is transmitted by instructors.


There is also a lot of incorporating readily available package training into "custom programmes". These are run under the auspices of Higher Education. Maybe, HE is only discovering how adults actually learn ... Scary since this sector now dominates educating executives!

Comments? Also any innovations you would highlight?