
Building Dynamic Capabilities in Adult Learning
Case Studies and a Practical Toolkit for Training Providers
Routledge (Publisher)
1st Edition
Will be published approx. on 21. July 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
100 pages
978-1-032-98953-2 (ISBN)
Description
In an era of rapid technological, economic, and social change, organisations must constantly adapt to remain relevant. This book examines the growing importance of dynamic capabilities in enabling training providers to respond to uncertainty, reconfigure resources, and create sustainable value in increasingly complex and volatile environments.
Focusing on the training and adult education (TAE) sector, the book examines how organisations integrate, build, and reconfigure internal and external resources to respond effectively to shifting demands. It conceptualises dynamic capabilities through a socio-cultural lens, emphasising the central role of people, leadership, and organisational culture in driving strategic change. Drawing on empirical research conducted with 18 training providers in Singapore, the book presents seven in-depth case studies that reveal how dynamic capabilities are enacted in practice. From these cases, seven key organisational resources are identified and analysed, showing how they are mobilised, combined, and transformed across different contexts, purposes, and time horizons. The book develops a practical framework that captures effective practices in capability development and includes a toolkit to support organisations in diagnosing their capability profiles, aligning resources with strategic goals, and fostering continuous innovation and learning.
The books in the series are for graduate and post-graduate students, academics and practitioners such as adult educators, human resource personnel, and consultants who are change agents.
Focusing on the training and adult education (TAE) sector, the book examines how organisations integrate, build, and reconfigure internal and external resources to respond effectively to shifting demands. It conceptualises dynamic capabilities through a socio-cultural lens, emphasising the central role of people, leadership, and organisational culture in driving strategic change. Drawing on empirical research conducted with 18 training providers in Singapore, the book presents seven in-depth case studies that reveal how dynamic capabilities are enacted in practice. From these cases, seven key organisational resources are identified and analysed, showing how they are mobilised, combined, and transformed across different contexts, purposes, and time horizons. The book develops a practical framework that captures effective practices in capability development and includes a toolkit to support organisations in diagnosing their capability profiles, aligning resources with strategic goals, and fostering continuous innovation and learning.
The books in the series are for graduate and post-graduate students, academics and practitioners such as adult educators, human resource personnel, and consultants who are change agents.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Adult education
Academic, Adult education, Postgraduate, and Professional Reference
Illustrations
2 s/w Zeichnungen, 3 s/w Tabellen, 3 s/w Abbildungen, 1 s/w Photographie bzw. Rasterbild
3 Tables, black and white; 2 Line drawings, black and white; 1 Halftones, black and white; 3 Illustrations, black and white
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
Weight
453 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-032-98953-2 (9781032989532)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Zan Chen | Ilona Murphy | Helen Bound
Building Dynamic Capabilities in Adult Learning
Case Studies and a Practical Toolkit for Training Providers
Book
approx. 07/2026
1st Edition
Routledge
€191.50
Not yet published

Zan Chen | Ilona Murphy | Helen Bound
Building Dynamic Capabilities in Adult Learning
Case Studies and a Practical Toolkit for Training Providers
E-Book
approx. 07/2026
1st Edition
Routledge
€55.49
Available for download

Zan Chen | Ilona Murphy | Helen Bound
Building Dynamic Capabilities in Adult Learning
Case Studies and a Practical Toolkit for Training Providers
E-Book
approx. 07/2026
1st Edition
Routledge
€55.49
Available for download
Persons
Zan Chen is Associate Professor at the Institute for Adult Learning, Singapore University of Social Sciences, Singapore.
Ilona Murphy is Associate Researcher at the Institute for Adult Learning, Singapore University of Social Sciences, Singapore.
Helen Bound is now retired (from academia) but undertakes learning and development consultancies.
Manfred Max Bergman is Professor at the University of Basel, Switzerland.
Ilona Murphy is Associate Researcher at the Institute for Adult Learning, Singapore University of Social Sciences, Singapore.
Helen Bound is now retired (from academia) but undertakes learning and development consultancies.
Manfred Max Bergman is Professor at the University of Basel, Switzerland.
Author
Centre for Work and Learning at the Institute for Adult Learning, Singapore
Content
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Dynamic Capabilities and the Seven Resources
Chapter 3: Case Studies
Chapter 4: Unlocking Resource Synergies
Chapter 5: Building Dynamic Capabilities: A Practical Toolkit for Training Providers
Closing Remarks: From Capabilities to Possibilities: Turning Change Into Growth
References
Annex
Index
Chapter 2: Dynamic Capabilities and the Seven Resources
Chapter 3: Case Studies
Chapter 4: Unlocking Resource Synergies
Chapter 5: Building Dynamic Capabilities: A Practical Toolkit for Training Providers
Closing Remarks: From Capabilities to Possibilities: Turning Change Into Growth
References
Annex
Index