An Integrative Approach to Leader Development
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David Day and colleagues embark on the development of a theory of leader development in this text. They make a compelling case as to the need for a theory. Further, they go on to do a thorough job of linking leader development with adult learning theory.
Perhaps most interesting is the distinction made between leader development and leader-SHIP development. According to Day, et al., leader development focuses on the development of human capital while leadership development builds social capital in an organization. This concept is compelling, somewhat provocative, and entirely under-developed in this text. In reading other scholarly articles by Day (from as far back as 2001), he has been toying with this concept and it is somewhat disappointing to see that An Integrative Approach to Leader Development does not serve as a summary/hypothesis to his thoughts on leadership development as studied through more than a decade of research. This comment is not meant to suggest that the leadership development topic should supplant the leader development work in this text; however, an additional section of the book (perhaps prior to laying out Day's theory of leader development) would have been a substantial addition from both a content and an enjoyment perspective.
This text was required reading for a doctoral-level course on leader development. For that, it served its purpose well and was a meaningful addition to the course curriculum. Day, Harrison, and Halpin succeeded in effectively communicating their ideas and did not lose themselves in scholarly verbosity as is so often the case in research-based texts. Day, et al.'s use of the US Army as a sort of practical example also proved helpful, though questions as to how these concepts could be expeditiously applied in private sector business settings could be raised.
In conclusion, this text is a solid entry to the leader development literature and provides a helpful basis for students of leadership (in general) and leader development (in particular).