A protean practice? Perspectives on the practice of action learning

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to assess the extent to which these practitioners ' perspectives and practices match Willis ' s conception of a Revans “gold standard” of action learning.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopts a qualitative design and methodology based on interviews and the collection of cases or accounts of practice, and upon the analysis of both. This exploratory study draws on 24 cases of academic practice of action learning within higher education (HE) institutions in the UK and 21 cases drawn from practitioners in the UK National Health Service.

Findings

Whilst action learning is shown to be a context sensitive and protean methodology, the findings demonstrate that approaches to practice are not as divergent as anticipated. On the evidence of this study, many aspects of action learning practice remain rooted in the principles originally established by Revans, sometimes termed.

Research limitations/implications

The limitations of this study stem from its exploratory nature using small samples in the NHS and HE sectors. Nonetheless, the results could stimulate further empirical research on approaches to the practice of action learning in a range of other contexts.

Practical implications

The study provides a basis on which practitioners can critically reflect on their own professional practices, and a means to review their own purposes in making use of action learning in their work situations.

Originality/value

The study extends earlier research by confirming the persistence of Revans Classical Principles in the present practice across two professional practice contexts.

Citation

Brook, C., Pedler, M. and Burgoyne, J.G. (2013), "A protean practice? Perspectives on the practice of action learning", European Journal of Training and Development, Vol. 37 No. 8, pp. 728-743. https://doi.org/10.1108/EJTD-02-2013-0024