The 30-Second Encyclopedia of Learning and Performance: A Trainers Guide to Theory, Terminology, and Practice

Action Learning

Action learning, originally called "action research," is a tool of organizational development created in the 1940s by Kurt Lewin in the United States and Reginald Revans in England. In many ways a precursor of Japanese quality circles in the 1980s, action learning consists of small-group efforts in an organization to solve problems at a grass roots level. Designated teams work together to set tasks, come up with solutions, and effect change from below. The term sometimes is used in a much broader sense to simply mean "learning on the job."

Fastpaths

1948

Kurt Lewin: Resolving Social Conflicts: Selected Papers on Group Dynamics.

1951

Kurt Lewin: Field Theory in Social Science: Selected Theoretical Papers.

1969

Alfred Marrow: The Practical Theorist: The Life and Work of Kurt Lewin.

1980

Reginald Revans: Action Learning: New Techniques for Management.

1982

Reginald Revans: The Origins and Growth of Action Learning.

1983

Mike Pedler (ed.): Action Learning in Practice. Anthology of articles on the British action learning movement started by Revans.

1987

Marvin Weisbord: Productive Workplaces. A readable history of organizational development, including action learning.

2000

David Garvin: Learning in Action: A Guide to Putting the Learning Organization to Work.

See also Learning Organization Lessons Learned Organizational Development (OD)

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