Dr Paul Donovan

    School of Business

    Associate Professor

    School of Business Building
    18
    (01) 708 6627

    Biography

    Dr Paul Donovan has founded Trinsights, a learning transfer software specialist organisation which has developed STAR, a unique web based tool that maximises learning transfer from training programmes back into impact in the company.

    Trinsights is supported by Enterprise Ireland and has been selected to participate in the Big Ideas Conference in the Convention Centre in Dublin on 2nd December last year. Following presentation of the STAR tool, investors will have an opportunity to question the founders and offer investment in the project.

    Dr Paul Donovan was previously Principal Investigator, Acting Head of the School of Business at Maynooth University. During a 17 year spell at Irish Management Institute he acted as Registrar and Head of Management Development. At IMI he delivered hundreds of management development programmes to thousands of participants across the globe.

    Before joining IMI he worked as a general operations manager with Bord na Mona, the Irish Peat Development Authority. He was also Training and Development Manager of the Bord na Mona group.

    Paul has delivered executive development programmes in over 15 countries. He is research active, and has written over 10 books in learning and development and general management. He has contributed a column to HRD magazine for 20 years.

    His research interest is the transfer of training and he’s received €278,000 from Enterprise Ireland to construct a web based tool to maximise transfer of learning from training programmes back into the workplace.. Paul holds two masters degrees from Trinity College Dublin and a doctorate from Leicester University.

    Research Interests

    The transfer of learning from training and teaching interventions back into workplaces.

    Peer Reviewed Journals

      Year Publication
    2017 'The Disaster Approach: Countering Learner Apprehension in Role-Play'
    Paul Donovan (2017) 'The Disaster Approach: Countering Learner Apprehension in Role-Play'. Management Teaching Review, 1 (9) [DOI] [IR Link] [Details]
    2017 'A Threshold Concept in Managing: What Students in Introductory Management Courses Must Know'
    Donovan P. (2017) 'A Threshold Concept in Managing: What Students in Introductory Management Courses Must Know'. Management Education, 41 (6):835-851 [DOI] [IR Link] [Details]
    2015 'Actors and avatars: why learners prefer digital agents'
    Donovan, P. (2015) 'Actors and avatars: why learners prefer digital agents'. European Journal of Training and Development, 39 (9):738-768 [DOI] [IR Link] [Details]
    2014 'Student response systems and learner engagement in large classes'
    Heaslip, G., Donovan, P., Cullen, J.G. (2014) 'Student response systems and learner engagement in large classes'. Active Learning in Higher Education, 15 (1):11-24 [DOI] [Details]
    2011 'Learning transfer: The views of practitioners in Ireland'
    Donovan, P., Darcy, D.P. (2011) 'Learning transfer: The views of practitioners in Ireland'. International Journal of Training and Development, 15 (2):121-139 [DOI] [IR Link] [Details]
    2001 'The learning transfer system approach to estimating the benefits of training: Empirical evidence'
    Donovan, P., Hannigan, K., Crowe, D. (2001) 'The learning transfer system approach to estimating the benefits of training: Empirical evidence'. Journal of European Industrial Training, 25 :221-228 [DOI] [IR Link] [Details]
    2015 'The Role of Debate in Moving Minds: Management Teaching Review'
    Donovan, Paul Townsend, John (2015) 'The Role of Debate in Moving Minds: Management Teaching Review'. Management Teaching Review, Vol. 1 :1-7 [DOI] [IR Link] [Details]
    2014 'Student response systems and learner engagement in large classes'
    Heaslip, G;Donovan, P;Cullen, JG (2014) 'Student response systems and learner engagement in large classes'. Active Learning in Higher Education, 15 :11-24 [DOI] [Details]
    2011 'Learning transfer: The views of practitioners in Ireland'
    Donovan P.;Darcy D. (2011) 'Learning transfer: The views of practitioners in Ireland'. International Journal of Training and Development, 15 (2):121-139 [DOI] [IR Link] [Details]
    2001 'The learning transfer system approach to estimating the benefits of training: empirical evidence'
    Paul Donovan. Deirdre Crowe, Kevin Hannigan (2001) 'The learning transfer system approach to estimating the benefits of training: empirical evidence'. Journal of European Industrial Training, 25 :221-228 [DOI] [IR Link] [Details]

    Books

      Year Publication
    2012 Human Resource Management / Human Resource Development in its Contemporary Context, .
    Crowley-Henry, M., Donovan, Paul (2012) Human Resource Management / Human Resource Development in its Contemporary Context, . : Palgrave. [Details]
    2011 The Learning Transfer Pocketbook.
    Dr Paul Donovan (2011) The Learning Transfer Pocketbook. : Management Pocketbooks. [Details]
    2005 Simple Training Evaluation.
    Dr Paul Donovan (2005) Simple Training Evaluation. : Management Pocketbooks. [Details]
    2004 The Training Needs Analysis Pocketbook.
    Dr Paul Donovan (2004) The Training Needs Analysis Pocketbook. : Management Pocketbooks. [Details]
    2001 The Great Training Robbery.
    Dr Paul Donovan (2001) The Great Training Robbery. Hampshire: Management Pocketbooks. [Details]
    2000 Management Techniques 1.
    Dr Paul Donovan (2000) Management Techniques 1. : Irish Management Institute. [Details]
    2000 The Facilitator's Pocketbook.
    Dr Paul Donovan (2000) The Facilitator's Pocketbook. : Management Pocketbooks. [Details]
    1999 Management Theory and Practice.
    Dr Paul Donovan (1999) Management Theory and Practice. : Irish Management Institute. [Details]
    1998 Psychology and Work.
    Dr Paul Donovan (1998) Psychology and Work. : Irish Management Institute. [Details]
    1998 Business Environment.
    Dr Paul Donovan (1998) Business Environment. : Irish Management Institute. [Details]
    1998 Personnel Management.
    Dr Paul Donovan (1998) Personnel Management. : Irish Management Institute. [Details]
    1998 Practical Communication.
    Dr Paul Donovan (1998) Practical Communication. : Irish Management Institute. [Details]
    1998 Management Techniques 2.
    Dr Paul Donovan (1998) Management Techniques 2. : Irish Management Institute. [Details]

    Book Chapters

      Year Publication
    2016 'Finding the critical few: The hot buttons of training transfer at ICON - a case study in evaluation and learning transfer at a global CRO (clinical research organization)'
    Donovan P. (2016) 'Finding the critical few: The hot buttons of training transfer at ICON - a case study in evaluation and learning transfer at a global CRO (clinical research organization)' In: Training Initiatives and Strategies for the Modern Workforce. [DOI] [Details]
    2015 'Learning Needs Assessment'
    Dr Paul Donovan (2015) 'Learning Needs Assessment' In: Human Resource Development: A Concise Introduction. London: Palgrave Macmillan. [Details]
    2014 'The measurement of transfer using return on investment'
    Donovan P. (2014) 'The measurement of transfer using return on investment' In: Transfer of Learning in Organizations. [DOI] [Details]

    Other Journals

      Year Publication
    2018 'The Engaged Classroom: PowerPoint Free'
    O'Connor, C. and Donovan, P. (2018) 'The Engaged Classroom: PowerPoint Free' The All Ireland Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, 10 (2) :3381-33814. [Details]

    Conference Publications

      Year Publication
    2010 FACTORS AFFECTING THE TRANSFER OF TRAINING
    Donovan, P (2010) FACTORS AFFECTING THE TRANSFER OF TRAINING 3RD ANNUAL EUROMED CONFERENCE OF THE EUROMED ACADEMY OF BUSINESS: BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS COUNTRIES AND CULTURES , pp.1347-1349 [Details]

    Conference Contributions

      Year Publication
    2018 Layering of the assessment process: the path to improved attendance, learning and engagement.
    Donovan, P. and O'Connor, C. (2018) Layering of the assessment process: the path to improved attendance, learning and engagement. [Oral Presentation], Management and Organisational Behaviour Teaching Society, Maynooth University, Ireland, June 2018, Maynooth, Ireland [Details]
    2018 AOM Conference 2018.
    Paul Donovan, Na Fu (2018) AOM Conference 2018. [Oral Presentation], Bridging the Gap Between Research and Practice, Chicago , 09-AUG-18 - 07-AUG-18 [Details]
    2018 Layering of the assessment process: the path to improved attendance, learning and engagement.
    Paul Donovan & Christina O'Connor (2018) Layering of the assessment process: the path to improved attendance, learning and engagement. [Oral Presentation], Management and Organisational Behaviour Teaching Society, Maynooth, Ireland [Details]
    2016 Tackling Creeping Passivity through Collaborative Peer Assessment: Classroom Learning Re-imagined.
    Donovan, P. and O'Connor, C. (2016) Tackling Creeping Passivity through Collaborative Peer Assessment: Classroom Learning Re-imagined. [Oral Presentation], Irish Academy of Management, UCD, 31st Aug - 2nd Sept, Dublin, Ireland [Details]
    2016 Tackling Creeping Passivity through Collaborative Peer Assessment: Classroom Learning Re-imagined.
    Donovan, P. and O'Connor, C. (2016) Tackling Creeping Passivity through Collaborative Peer Assessment: Classroom Learning Re-imagined. [Oral Presentation], Irish Academy of Management, Dublin, Ireland [Details]
    2016 The PowerPoint Free Classroom: Passivity, Engagement and Student Perceptions.
    Donovan, P. and O'Connor, C. (2016) The PowerPoint Free Classroom: Passivity, Engagement and Student Perceptions. [Oral Presentation], International Conference on Engaging Pedagogy, Maynooth, Ireland [Details]

    Magazine Article

      Year Publication
    2013 The Laser Learning Show.
    Dr Paul Donovan (2013) The Laser Learning Show. Magazine Article [Details]
    2012 Wiffiti: Digital Graffiti in the Classroom.
    Dr Paul Donovan (2012) Wiffiti: Digital Graffiti in the Classroom. Magazine Article [Details]
    2012 Engagement in Training.
    Dr Paul Donovan (2012) Engagement in Training. Magazine Article [Details]
    2012 Trainer Techniques.
    Dr Paul Donovan (2012) Trainer Techniques. Magazine Article [Details]
    2010 Webquests: How to use digital treasure hunts to liven up training.
    Dr Paul Donovan (2010) Webquests: How to use digital treasure hunts to liven up training. Magazine Article [Details]
    2010 The Recto Verso Exercise.
    Dr Paul Donovan (2010) The Recto Verso Exercise. Magazine Article [Details]
    2010 Getting Real Benefits from Training.
    Dr Paul Donovan (2010) Getting Real Benefits from Training. Magazine Article [Details]
    2009 The Role Play Disaster.
    Dr Paul Donovan (2009) The Role Play Disaster. Magazine Article [Details]
    2009 The Role Debate.
    Dr Paul Donovan (2009) The Role Debate. Magazine Article [Details]
    2008 Paul Donovan Viewpoint (Winter).
    Dr Paul Donovan (2008) Paul Donovan Viewpoint (Winter). Magazine Article [Details]
    2008 Paul Donovan Viewpoint (Spring).
    Dr Paul Donovan (2008) Paul Donovan Viewpoint (Spring). Magazine Article [Details]
    2008 Paul Donovan Viewpoint (Summer).
    Dr Paul Donovan (2008) Paul Donovan Viewpoint (Summer). Magazine Article [Details]
    2007 The Paul Donovan Column.
    Dr Paul Donovan (2007) The Paul Donovan Column. Magazine Article [Details]
    2006 The Paul Donovan Column.
    Dr Paul Donovan (2006) The Paul Donovan Column. Magazine Article [Details]
    2005 Senior Managers Are Resisting Performance Management Training.
    Dr Paul Donovan (2005) Senior Managers Are Resisting Performance Management Training. Magazine Article [Details]
    2002 Poor Survey Findings: The Boss Wants Action.
    Dr Paul Donovan (2002) Poor Survey Findings: The Boss Wants Action. Magazine Article [Details]
    2002 How Do I Produce Effective Training Reports.
    Dr Paul Donovan (2002) How Do I Produce Effective Training Reports. Magazine Article [Details]

    Thesis

      Year Publication
    2009 Context and causation in the evaluation of training.
    Dr Paul Donovan (2009) Context and causation in the evaluation of training. University of Leicester: Thesis [Details]

    Working Paper

      Year Publication
    1999 Context and Causation in the Evaluation of Training.
    Dr Paul Donovan, Dr Kevin Hannigan (1999) Context and Causation in the Evaluation of Training. Working Paper [Details]

    Honours and Awards

      Year Title Awarding Body
    2011 Microsoft Award
    2016 Best Paper ICEP Conference ICEP
    2016 Outstanding Reviewer Management Teaching Review Journal
    2004 Fellowship of Irish Institute of Training and Development
    2015 The Alan Moon Memorial Prize
    2015 IITD Outstanding Achievement Award

    Professional Associations

      Association Function From / To
    Irish Institute of Training and Development Member /

    Education

      Year Institution Qualification Subject
    2009 Leicester University Doctor of Social Science
    1989 Trinity College MSc Organisational Behaviour
    2010 Trinity College MSc in Technology and Learning