Action Learning

Action Learning Methodology
"The changing demands of the corporate world cry out for the Action Learning didactical philosophy. This means not being content with just knowledge and expertise, but doing things, trying ideas and developing initiatives…..” this is what makes people competent managers” (Revans 1971)

Lao Tzu was the original Action Learner:

“Give a man a fish, feed him for a day.  
Teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime”

In the Action Learning MBA a learning situation is created in which managers explore and investigate together, with an emphasis on how to ask the right questions, with the lecturers drawing on their experience to facilitate this process.
This management education philosophy requires much effort from both student and lecturer, way beyond the traditional imparting and absorbing of knowledge.

Action Learning Groups
Action Learning is: Learning together. Small sets or groups of “ comrades in adversity” get to know each other and within the social structure of the group learning takes place as people are busy with each other’s problems.
Tutors no longer lecture but participate in the tackling of new problems, facilitating the reorganisation of thoughts and the search for the right questions. The set is the personal network of each member.

Action Learning Projects
The problems solved by each set are  relevant to each member’s organisation. It is all about taking managerial responsibility for action in ones own organisation. The results will be useful for the organisation. If the interests of the organisation are taken care of, the interests of the student automatically follow.

Projects are meaningful if they involve the risk of failure. Both students and organisations must be willing to take risks. Fast learning is a product of making mistakes, and a certain tolerance of mistakes by the student’s organisation is required, furthermore, the student should be empowered to carry out the project independently.

Student & Organisation
Both student and the organisation bear the responsibility for carrying out the project thus the organisation must be willing to protect their
participating manager from anything that could frustrate the outcome of the project. This frees the manager of fear of retribution should an
error be made. Trial and error is very necessary to the success of a project.

Finally, the Action Learning MBA involves thinking about what you are doing, not just being busy doing it.

Reflection in action: In small groups one can learn to think about results, develop new ideas, take action, test ideas, rethink.

Learn to think about what one is doing and learn to learn.