Action learning

Professor Reginald Revans, the originator of Action Learning, died aged 95 in January 2003. He had invented and developed this method in the 1940s, working in the Coal Board and later in hospitals, where he concluded that the conventional instructional methods were largely ineffective. People had to be aware of their lack of relevant knowledge and be prepared to explore the area of their ignorance with suitable questions and help from other people in similar positions. From one who had started as an experimental physicist, this was a startling conclusion to come to and it brought him into head-on conflict with academe and schools of management in particular.

Later, Revans relented and this is made clear in the opening chapter of his book (Revans,1980) which describes the formula:

L = P + Q

where L is learning, P is programmed (traditional) knowledge and Q is questioning to create insight.

Although Q is the cornerstone of the method, the more relaxed formulation has enabled action learning (AL) to become widely accepted in many countries all over the world; in this book there are examples from the USA, Canada, Latin America, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific.

The contribution of Revans is being seen today through intiatives in leadership development such as those made by Dr Richard Hale and Dr Charles Margersion working with major organisations - see www.viprojects.com for downloadable articles on the subject. They have developed a new approach to education of leaders which is recognised by leading universities interested in work based learning in the UK. This puts the business or personal questions issues before the syllabus, so following Revans' principles 'theory follows the action'. Margersion was heavily influenced by Revans having spent his early career in UK Business Schools where Revans challenged him to 'move to where the action is' and support learning in the workplace. Richard Hale spent his early career in the GEC organisation where Revans' ideas were pursued by Sir Arnold Weinstock. Revans distinguished between puzzles and problems, noting that action learning lent itself to working on real problems (e.g. improving productivity or morale rather than puzzles e.g. constructing a balance sheet.) He also noted from his experience working with Nobel prize winning scientists at Cmabridge, that there was a distinction between cleverness (i.e. knowledge) and wisdom, which showed in the form of insightful questioning. He showed that much powerful learning comes from people learning 'with and from others', hence many action learning programmes put the 'action learning set' at the heart of the process. In the UK key writers on the subject have been Mike Pedler and Alan Mumford and in the USA Michael Marquardt and Joe Raelin. Revans achieved major honours in Belgium where he linked higher education with industry achieving major results that impacted on national economic recovery.

References

• Margerison, C.J., Memories of Reg Revans – 1907 – 2003: http://www.viprojects.com/index.asp?level1=22&level2=20&sectionid=20

• Margerison, C.J., Memories of Reg Revans – 1907 – 2003: http://www.viprojects.com/index.asp?level1=22&level2=20&sectionid=20

Marquardt, M. J. 1999. Action learning in action. Palo Alto, CA: Davies-Black. Marquardt, M. J. 2004. Harnessing the power of action learning. T�D, 58(6): 26–32.

Pedler, M., (Ed.). 1991. Action learning in practice (2nd ed.). Aldershot, UK: Gower.

Pedler, M. 1996. Action learning for managers. London: Lemos and Crane.

Raelin, J. A. 1997. Action learning and action science: Are they different? Organizational Dynamics, 26(1): 21–34.

Raelin, J. A. 2000. Work-based learning: The new frontier of management development. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.

• Revans, R. (1980). Action learning: New techniques for management. London: Blond & Briggs, Ltd.

Revans, R. W. 1982. The origin and growth of action learning. Brickley, UK: Chartwell-Bratt.

Revans, R. W. 1998. ABC of action learning. London: Lemos and Crane.

Sawchuk, P. H. 2003. Adult learning and technology in workingclass life. New York: Cambridge University Press.

• Interview with Dr Richard Hale on Action Learning Interviewed by Chris Duckworth, K Learning, KPMG, 14th April 2005:

http://www.viprojects.com/index.asp?level1=22&level2=20&sectionid=20