Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Action Learning Scenarios (ALS) and Results

"…action learning is both a process and a powerful program that involves a small group of people solving real problems while at the same time focusing on what they are learning and how their learning can benefit each group member and the organization as a whole."    ~Michael Marquardt

2019  —  2018  —  2017  —  2016  —  2015  —  2014  —  2012  —  2011  —  2010  —  2009 
2008  —  2007  —  2006  —  2005  —  2004  —  2003  —  2002  —  2001  —  2000

 

July 15-19, 2019

Change Management: Enabling a Culture of Ownership for Quality Management within the USGS
Cindy Lodge (champion) and Walt Guidroz (sponsor)
Scenario   Results 

Strategic Vision for Integrated Laboratory Science
Chris Johnson (champion) and Kenna Butler (sponsor)
Scenario   Results 

Implicit Bias in the USGS
Regina Neal-Mujahid (Champion) and Ulysees Gilbert (sponsor)
Scenario   Results 

 

February 11-15, 2019

Measuring Scientific Excellence
Craig Robinson (Champion) and Bruce Taggart (Sponsor)
Scenario   Results 

Quality Management in USGS laboratories
David Applegate (Champion) and Kenna Butler (Sponsor)
Scenario   Results

Increase Knowledge Management
Mike Tupper (Champion) and Paul Wagner (Sponsor)
Scenario   Results

 

August 6-10, 2018

Evaluating and Maintaining the Health of the Workforce in a Stressful Budget Environment
Craig Robinson (Champion) and Eleanour Snow (Sponsor)
Scenario     Results

Centers of the Future: Metrics For Success
Leon Carl, Holly Weyers, Linda Leake (Champions) Scott Morlock, and Dan Hayba (Sponsors)
Scenario     Results

Who's In Charge?  Effective Succession Planning Across USGS
Kevin Gallagher, Holly Weyers (Champions), and Jill Nissan (Sponsor)
Scenario     Results

Creating a Culture of Collaboration and Inclusion at the Local Level
Regina Neal-Mujahid (Champion), Ulysees Gilbert, and Ashley Cannady (Sponsors)
Scenario     Results

 

June 4-8, 2018

Supporting the Mission of USGS Science Through STEM Learning Activities
Craig Robinson (Champion) and Eleanor Snow (Sponsor)
Scenario     Results

Creating a Culture of Anti-harassment in USGS
Regina Neal-Mujahid, Aimee Devaris (Champions), and Stacy Curtis (Sponsor)
Scenario     Results

Leadership Effectively Engaging and Communicating with Employees
Holly Weyers, Mark Sogge (Champions), and Stacy Curtis (Sponsor)
Scenario     Results

Using Science Center Social Media to Strengthen the USGS Brand
Leslie Jones (Champion), Karen Armstrong, and Scott Horvath (Sponsors)
Scenario     Results

                                                  ↑ Back to top

 

August 14-18, 2017

Building an Inclusive Work Environment ...A Smarter Way to Work
Regina Neal-Mujahid (Champion)
Scenario     Results

Employee Engagement
Julie Wozniak, Stacy Bushée, and Andy Ziegler (Champions)
Scenario     Results

Building Generation Z Lab Capabilities: Energy & Minerals Mission Area Starting Point
Murray Hitzman, Geoff Plumlee, and Kenna Butler (Champions)
Scenario     Results

 

July 17-21, 2017

Becoming a More Nimble Organization
Mike Tupper and Dan Hippe (Champions)
Scenario     Results

What Makes a Center Healthy?
Holly Weyers and Katie McCulloch (Champions)
Scenario     Results

Fostering High Priority, Multi-mission Area Science with the Expertise, Facilities and Capabilities Required
Leon Carl, Tim McHale, and Andrea Ostroff (Champions)
Scenario     Results

Knowledge Transfer Across Generations
Tim Quinn and Paul Exter (Champions)
Scenario     Results

                                                  ↑ Back to top

 

August 15-19, 2016

USGS Trusted Digital Repositories
Randy Orndorff and Keith Kirk (Champions)
Scenario     Results

USGS Workforce Accountability: Roles and Responsibilities
David Applegate, José Aragon, and Gregory Shelton (Champions)
Scenario     Results

Creating a Rewarding Environment
Paul Young, Dan Hippe, and Pam Agnew (Champions)
Scenario     Results

Rewarding Risk-taking and Innovation at the USGS
Barbara Wainman and Stacy Bushée (Champions)
Scenario     Results

                                                  ↑ Back to top

 

August 3-7, 2015

The USGS Bureau Workforce Plan
Kevin Gallagher and Jill Nissan (Champions)
Scenario     Results

Sustaining Support for Our Science Mission
José Aragon, Julie Wozniak, and Shari Delung (Champions)
Scenario     Results

Rewarding Risk-Taking and Innovation at the USGS
Suzette Kimball, Barbara Wainman, and Dave Hebert (Champions)
Scenario     Results

Expect Innovation from the Enterprise Information Office:  21st Century Information Technology for 21stCentury Science!
Tim Quinn and Paul Exter (Champions)
Scenario     Results

 

June 15 - 19, 2015

Water — Think USGS
Bill Werkheiser and Barbara Wainman (Champions)
Scenario     Results

Enduring support for our science mission
Jose Aragon, Katie McCulloch, Julie Wozniak, and Shari Delung (Champions)
Scenario     Results

The USGS Workforce Plan
Mark Sogge, Nancy Lee, and Bill Werkheiser (Champions)
Scenario     Results

Working with the matrix at USGS
Geoff Plumlee, Paul Young, and Dan Hayba (Champions)
Scenario     Results

                                                  ↑ Back to top

 

July 21-25, 2014

#Water - Think USGS
Bill Werkheiser, Barbara Wainman, and Ethan Alpern (Champions)
Scenario     Results

Diversity and the USGS Science Pipeline
Sarah Ryker and Virginia Burkett (Champions)
Scenario     Results

Engaging Employees in the Major Digital Changes Happening in the USGS
Barbara Wainman, Karen Armstrong, and David Hebert (Champions)
Scenario     Results

The Science Portfolio: Strategic Positioning and Periodic Reassessment - What Does This Really Mean?
Leon Carl and Bill Guertal (Champions)
Scenario     Results

                                                  ↑ Back to top

 

** No Leadership 201 classes were held in 2013 **

 

June 11-15, 2012

A New Vision for Laboratories in the Water Mission Area
Bill Werkheiser and Jerad Bales (Champions)
Scenario     Results

Strengthening the Bonds between USGS Diversity Sub-Councils and USGS Employees
Leslie Holland-Bartels and Alesia Pierre-Louis (Champions)
Scenario     Results

Sustainability, Science, and the USGS
Marcia McNutt, Ione Taylor, Carl Shapiro, and Sally Brady (Champions)
Scenario     Results

 

March 12-16, 2012

Launching and Developing an Identity for the New USGS Environmental Health Mission Area
Suzette Kimball, Ione Taylor, Patti Bright, and Herb Buxton (Champions)
Scenario     Results

Creating an Engaged Workforce by Communicating Effectively with Employees
Barbara Wainman, Tom Brocher, Sarah Gerould, Veronica Johnson, Kurt Newman, and Greg Steyer (Champions)
Scenario     Results

Strengthening the Bonds between USGS Diversity Sub-Councils and USGS Employees
Leslie Holland-Bartels, Alesia Pierre-Louis, and John Szemraj (Champions)
Scenario     Results

                                                  ↑ Back to top

 

August 1-5, 2011

The National Research Program within the Context of the USGS Strategic Directions
Bill Werkheiser (Champion) and Jerad Bales (Sponsor)
Scenario     Results

The Use of Economics in the USGS as a Bridge Between Science and Societal Decisions (follow up)
Ione Taylor (Champion) and Carl Shapiro (Sponsor)
Scenario     Results

Strengthening the Bonds Between USGS Diversity Sub-Councils and USGS Employees
Leslie Holland-Bartels, Alesia Pierre-Louis (Champions), and Diversity Sub-Council (Sponsor)
Scenario     Results

Cutting Costs While Keeping Our Science Strong
Karen Baker and Barbara Wainman (Champions) 
Scenario     Results

 

March 21-25, 2011

The Use of Economics in the USGS as a Bridge between Science and Societal Decisions
Ione Taylor (Champion) and Carl Shapiro (Sponsor)
Scenario     Results

Strengthening the Bonds between USGS Diversity Sub-Councils and USGS Employees
Leslie Holland-Bartels (Champion) and Alesia Pierre-Louis (Sponsor)
Scenario     Results

Leading a "Best Place to Work" in Federal Government Effort
Ralph Charlip (Champion) and Alesia Pierre-Louis (Sponsor)
Scenario     Results

                                                  ↑ Back to top

 

June 14-18, 2010

Boundary Spanning Leadership at the Science Resources Management Interface
Marcia McNutt and Suzette Kimball (Champions)
Scenario     Results

Talking Change: How to More Effectively Communicate About the Reorganization
Barbara Wainman and Joanne Taylor (Champions)
Scenario     Results

USGS Response to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
Sue Haseltine (Champion) and Dave Bornholdt (Sponsor)
Scenario

 

March 22-26, 2010

Engaging All Employees in Science Excellence
Marcia McNutt and Suzette Kimball (Champions)
Results

USGS EPN: The Dilemma of Consolidation
Kevin Gallagher (Champion)
Results

The Leadership Case for Diversity
Bill Werkheiser and Veronica Johnson (Champions)
Results

                                                  ↑ Back to top

 

June 15-19. 2009

Top Ten Potential: Making the USGS One of the Government's Best Places to Work
Suzette Kimball and Barbara Wainman (Champions)
Results

The Leadership Case for Diversity
Pam Malam (Champion) and Alesia Pierre-Louis (Sponsor)
Scenario     Results

The Proposed John Wesley Powell Center for Analysis and Synthesis
Sue Haseltine (Champion)
Results

 

March 30 – April 3, 2009

Top Ten Potential: Making the USGs One of the Government's Best Places to Work
Suzette Kimball and Barbara Wainman (Champions)
Results

The Leadership Case for Diversity
Pam Malam (Champion) and Alesia Pierre-Louis (Sponsor)
Scenario     Results

Leading the USGS through a Time of National Economic Challenge
Matt Larsen (Champion)

Science at the DOI:  Who’s Responsible for What?
Sue Haseltine (Champion)

                                                  ↑ Back to top

 

June 9-13, 2008

The Diversity Business Case
Pam Malam (Champion) and Alesia Pierre-Louis (Sponsor)
Scenario

Moving Toward a Common Bureau-Wide Science Planning Process
Barbara Wainman (Champion)
Scenario

Increasing Program Efficiencies
Barbara Ryan (Champion)
Scenario

 

March 31-April 4, 2008

The Diversity Business Case
Pam Malam (Champion) and Alesia Pierre-Louis (Sponsor)
Scenario

Engaging Partners in a New Way: The National Global Warming and Wildlife Science Center
Sue Haseltine (Champion)
Scenario

Moving Toward a Common Bureau-Wide Science Planning Process
Barbara Wainman (Champion)
Scenario

                                                  ↑ Back to top

 

June 25-29, 2007

Increasing USGS Partnership Opportunities through Additional Funding Acceptance Authorities
Karen Baker (Champion) and Louie Pectol (Sponsor)
Scenario

USGS Response to DOI's Technical Guide and Departmental Order on Use of Adaptive Management by DOI Bureaus
Sue Haseltine (Champion) and Ken Williams (Sponsor)
Scenario

The Diversity Business Case
Pam Malam (Champion) and Alesia Pierre-Louis (Sponsor)
Scenario

 

March 26-30, 2007

The Diversity Business Case
Pam Malam (Champion) and Alesia Pierre-Louis (Sponsor)
Scenario

Leading the Effort to Implement a USGS Data Integration Blueprint
Karen Siderelis (Champion) and Kevin Gallagher (Sponsor)
Scenario

Engaging Employees in the New USGS Science Strategy
Bob Doyle and Barbara Wainman (Champions)
Scenario

Achieving the USGS Science Strategy: Maximizing Organizational Effectiveness
Suzette Kimball (Champion), Dave Russ, and Jess Weaver (Sponsors)
Scenario

                                                  ↑ Back to top

 

July 17-21, 2006

Improving the Ability of USGS Managers to Engage and Lead Employees
Bob Doyle and Pam Malam (Champions)
Scenario     Results

Molding Mark Myers
Barbara Wainman (Champion) and Amy Holley (Sponsor)
Scenario     Results

Science, Facilities and Administrative Costs
Karen Baker (Champion)
Scenario     Results

The Role of USGS Science in Structured Decision-Making Processes
Sue Haseltine (Champion), Ken Williams, and Dan Ashe (Sponsors)
Scenario     Results

 

April 3-7, 2006

Improving the Ability of USGS Managers to Engage and Lead Employees
Bob Doyle and Pam Malam (Champions)
Scenario     Results

Proactively and Positively Managing Organizational Change During Regional Restructuring
Pat Leahy and Suzette Kimball  (Champions)
Scenario     Results

Competitive Sourcing at the USGS
Karen Siderelis and Barbara Wainman (Champions)
Scenario     Results

Engaging Employees and Stakeholders in the Bureau Science Strategy
Linda Gunderson and Marty Goldhaber (Sponsors)
Scenario     Results

                                                  ↑ Back to top

 

July 11–15, 2005

Managing Leadership Development
Suzette Kimball (Champion) and Carole Carter (sponsor)
Scenario     Results

Maintaining a Rewarding USGS Environment in Challenging Times
Amy Holley (Champion) and Janis Nash (sponsor)
Scenario     Results

Naming and Renaming USGS Organizations
Carol Aten (Champion)
Scenario     Results

Creating a Leadership-Centered Culture in Times of Doing "Less with Less"
Barbara Wainman
Scenario     Results

 

April 11–15, 2005

Less with Less:  The Communications and Leadership Challenge
Bob Doyle, Barbara Wainman (Champions), Leslie McElroy, and Jess Weaver (Sponsors)
Scenario

Maintaining a Rewarding USGS Environment in Times of "Less with Less"
Olivia Ferriter, Janis Nash, Laure Wallace, and Stacy Bushee (Sponsors)
Scenario     Results

USGS Fleet Management
Carol Aten (Champion) 
Scenario     Results

                                                  ↑ Back to top

 

August 2–6, 2004

The Executive Leadership Team: Are they a team and is their leadership effective?
Bob Doyle and Barbara Wainman (Champions)
Scenario     Results

Creating a Rewarding USGS Environment: Assessing the future
Bonnie McGregor (Champion) and Janis Nash (Sponsor)
Scenario

Implementing a Federal Enterprise Architecture Within The USGS: Charting The Future For the Survey
Karen Siderelis (Champion) and Andrea Alpine (Sponsor)
Scenario

Developing Successful Leaders and Managers: Preparing for the Future
Kaye Cook (Champion) and Stacy Bushee (Sponsor)
Scenario

                                                  ↑ Back to top

 

September 15-19, 2003

Leadership and the OAS: What are we hearing?
Barbara Wainman (Champion)
Scenario

Strategic Facilities Management
Bob Doyle (Champion)
Results

Integrated Science Planning – Getting Project/Field Center Involvement
Bonnie McGregor (Champion) and Tom Armstrong (Sponsor)
Scenario   Results

USGS Role in Science with DOI Bureaus
Sue Haseltine (Champion)
Scenario

 

June 9-13, 2003

How does the USGS Implement a meaningful integration of its research and education contributions during a restrictive and competitive budget climate?
Bob Ridky (Sponsor)
Scenario

How can a science impact office be designed so that it is sustainable?
Carl Shapiro (Sponsor)
Scenario

How do we get the business rules, developed by the separate disciplines, to reinforce an interdisciplinary approach to science?
Bob Doyle (Champion)
Scenario     Results

                                                  ↑ Back to top

 

September 16-20, 2002

Strategic Change Success Stories
Barbara Wainman and Carol Aten (Champions)
Scenario

Developing Next-Generation Senior Leadership Cadre
Kathy Clement, Bonnie McGregor (Champions), and Dianne Jeffries (Sponsor)
Scenario

Center Director involvement in Bureau Planning and Business Practices Activities
Chip Groat (Champion) and Tim Miller (Sponsor)
Scenario

How do we enhance and maintain the scientific credibility of the USGS in a difficult and competitive budget climate?
Pat Leahy (Champion) and Linda Gunderson (Sponsor)
Scenario

 

June 17-21, 2002

Vision for the USGS
Chip Groat and Barbara Wainman (Champions)

Support of DOI and National Program Needs
Tom Casadevall (Champion) and Tim Miller (Sponsor)
Scenario

Business Model
Bonnie McGregor (Champion)
Scenario

How Do You Lead Through Competitive Sourcing?
Kathy Clement and Carol Aten (Champions)
Scenario

                                                  ↑ Back to top

 

June 18-22, 2001

Develop a Marketing Plan for the Leadership Development Program
Jeffrey Armbruster (Champion) and Nancy Driver (Sponsor)
Scenario

How does the USGS Implement Knowledge Management?
Karen Siderelis (Champion) and Dianne Jeffries (Sponsor)

How Do You Really do integrated science?
Bonnie McGregor (Champion)
Scenario

Leading Up, Down and Across – 360 Degree Leading
Jeffrey Armbruster (Champion) and Nancy Driver (Sponsor)
Scenario

 

June 4–8, 2001

Performance Reviews for Non-Research Grade Employees
Bill Fordyce (Champion), Janice Nash, and Dianne Jeffries (Sponsors)
Scenario

Cost Containment in the USGS
Kathy Clement and Carol Aten (Champion/Sponsor)
Scenario

Integrating Leadership Competencies and Behaviors
Jeffrey Armbruster (Champion) and Nancy Driver (Sponsor)
Scenario

Leading Up, Down and Across – 360 Degree Leading
Jeffrey Armbruster (Champion) and Nancy Driver (Sponsor)
Scenario

                                                  ↑ Back to top

 

September 25-29, 2000

How do you Explore Methods to Manage Human Resources Management Council (HRMC) Issues Bureau-Wide Throughout the Disciplines?
Jeffrey Armbruster (Champion) and Lew Wade (Sponsor)
Scenario

How do we Plan, Prioritize, and Implement Multidiscipline Training Within the Concept of a Strong Region/Discipline Organization?
Dianne Jeffries (Champion/Sponsor)
Scenario

How to Develop a Single Source for Bibliographic Information About All Reports Published by the USGS and Authored by the USGS?
Barb Ryan (Champion) and Ken Lanfear (Sponsor)
Scenario

                                                  ↑ Back to top

 

« Return to Leadership Development Program
→ Click to Learn More