A transdisciplinary andragogy for leadership development in a postmodern context

Abstract

The paper explores the complex nature of the postmodern world in which leaders find themselves and questions the appropriateness of the current discipline-based structure of MBA education in terms of its usefulness to develop effective postmodern leaders. What is called for is an approach to problem solving that is heuristic and also a tolerance for the temporal nature of solutions, flexibility, and multiple perspectives and inputs. Transdisciplinarity, which focuses on bringing together these different perspectives, provides a useful platform where developing leaders can engage with the dynamic and complex environment of a postmodern era. The nature of transdisciplinarity, from the perspective of a number of theorists, is presented. Furthermore, synergies between the transdisciplinary approach and the nature of postmodern leadership are identified and analysed. The paper examines synergies between transdisciplinarity and other scientific paradigms such as social constructivism, critical management theory, postmodernism, social cognitive theory, critical pedagogy, systems theory, complexity theory, cybernetics, narrative psychology, critical reflexivity, and others. The methodology is qualitative and involves the observation of a number of lecturing sessions at Business Schools in the United Kingdom, United States and South Africa, with the objective of noting whether any elements of transdisciplinary learning are evident. These observations are followed up with individual interviews with selected lecturers. The paper concludes with an analytical discourse on the value that a transdisciplinary andragogy can add to leadership development, particularly in relation to assisting students with embracing the complex challenges of leading in a postmodern era. The paper concludes that there is a significant lack of alignment with the prevailing approach to learning methodology in MBA programs and the nature of the postmodern world. The research recommends that a transdisciplinary learning methodology has a great deal to offer in terms of providing a learning environment for an emerging leader, that will equip him or her to be effective in a postmodern environment. Tools and methodologies for implementing a transdisciplinary approach to leadership development are suggested and outlined in some detail.