What is Action Learning?

Action Learning is a process that involves a small group working on real problems, taking action, and learning as individuals, as a team, and as an organization. It helps organizations develop creative, flexible and successful strategies to pressing problems.

Background

Since first introduced by Reg Revans to coal miners in Wales and England in the 1940s, Action Learning has emerged as a powerful problem-solving methodology that has the proven capacity to, simultaneously build successful leaders, teams and organizations.

Action Learning has emerged as a method of choice for global companies, government agencies, and non-profits that want to improve quality, cut costs, create new products and services, and change the cultures of their organizations.

Companies as diverse as Microsoft, Samsung, Dow, GE, Deutsche Bank, Boeing, Sodexho, Novartis, Nokia and many others use Action Learning to solve complex problems, develop leaders, build teams and expand corporate capability.

Action Learning is employed at government, non-profit and non-governmental organizations such as the US Department of Agriculture, the American Red Cross, the McKay Foundation and the Fairfax County Public School System in Virginia, which is the 13th largest school district in the United States.

Why is Action Learning Effective?

Action Learning solves problems and develops leaders simultaneously because its simple rules force participants to think critically and work collaboratively.

Action Learning is particularly effective for solving complex problems that may appear unsolvable. It elevates the norms, the collaboration, the creativity and the courage of groups that solve problems of great urgency to the organization.

The Action Learning coach, assists group members to reflect, not on their problem solving, but on the elevation of their group functioning and on examples of their leadership skills. In this way, Action Learning participants become effective leaders as they solve difficult problems.

Action Learning positions inquiry at the core of organizational behavior, develops critical thinking and creates mutual respect among employees at all levels. The focus on inquiry elevates the group interaction to a true learning environment.