Learning for Leadership

A.K. Rice joined the Tavistock Institute of Human Relations in 1948 and worked there until he died in 1969. It was at the Tavistock that Ken developed his method of critically analysing society, in particular addressing problems facing managers in industrial settings. He directed the Tavistock Institute's group relations programme and training events, including Leicester Conference till 1969. He later wrote a book about his experiences running Leicester, called 'Learning for Leadership: Interpersonal and Intergroup Relations'. Rice died suddenly on 15 November 1969, aged 61. His memorial service included tributes from his friends and colleagues, including Jock Sutherland, who described Rice's work at the Tavistock: "Ken's first endeavour with us was to create a small group of senior representatives of industry and administrators which met under the leadership of Wilfred Bion. Bion's influence on Ken remained a profound one and it established his future interest in group experience as a method for the personal development and understanding of those in leadership roles. His pioneering work in this field - perhaps one with quite remarkable potential for the educational needs of our society - was rewarded in the most gratifying way possible, its adoption by a wide range of institutions including industry, government departments and the clergy." The A.K. Rice Institute in the United States was set up by Margaret Rioch, Eric Miller and other colleagues in memory of Ken Rice and to continue the work he had started in America.

Conference Design -- Introduction -- The Basis of Conference Design -- Conference Structure -- Conference Culture -- Conference Events -- Study Groups -- The Large-group Event -- The Intergroup Exercise -- Application Groups -- The Plenary Sessions -- The Conference Institution -- The Life of the Conference -- The Staff Group -- Training or Therapy -- Institutional Reproduction -- Summary and Future Prospects -- Conference and Course Staff 1962–1964