Action Learning Conference
At the Action Learning Conference, organised by North West Employers and Liverpool John Moores University and supported by Neighbourhoods NW and NWIEP, on 4 February 2009, an audience of approximately 100 people came together to explore the promising potential of action learning from a variety of perspectives.
Individuals and groups who have experienced action learning shared their stories of establishing, managing and sustaining action learning networks to support individual, business, organisational and community development. On the day there were representatives from local government, the NHS, other local partners and academic institutions.
Our aim was to create a conversation between diverse contributors and participants via presentations, guided discussion and open spaces. Professors Mike Pedlar and Kiran Trechan and Liz McQue certainly did not disappoint and gave food for thought with their inspiring theories and stories which elicited much discussion amongst delegates at facilitated table discussions.
As well as theories and stories we brought the day to life with real live case studies held in workshops focusing on:
- Action learning: does it work with Elected Members?
- Neighbourhoods.
- Supporting organisational development.
Presentations from the Day
Photographs
Summary of Evaluations
Communities of Interest: Thinking Outside the Box
Action Learning Journal
What Next?
One of the key outcomes we hoped to achieve at the planning stage of the conference was to bring together members of varying communities to share thoughts and practice around action learning. In addition we hoped to review how the process may support learning and action within organisations but also to see whether there was energy across the North West for advancing this agenda across organisations and across sectors.
The response was certainly positive on the day. To support this we also asked those who attended to tell us how they hoped to progress action learning within their organisation and what support they needed from colleagues and the region as a whole.
When asked how were they hoping to progress action learning after today, comments ranged from utilising action learning principles and disciplines within existing forums as an alternative way of promoting reflection and sharing in meetings in the hope to ‘spice up’ current settings, to facilitating organisational change. In addition there were thoughts and comments around using action learning to support programmes and organisational development, supporting project work or dealing with organisational ‘knotty problems’. Others also hoped that it could be used to drive forward improvements in people development processes in line with IiP standards and could formulate an approach towards achieving consistent and cohesive service improvement.
We will be hoping to contact people over the coming months to see how this has progressed internally and share their learning and approaches.
In terms of support needed from regional bodies and colleagues, several themes emerged from the feedback, including:
- Promoting networking opportunities for organisations and individuals to share and learn from each other their experiences and approaches.
- Developing case studies to share across the region.
- Support the development of skills around action learning set facilitation and process.
- Facilitation of action learning sets.
- Support in setting up and establishing sets.
North West Employers will look to support this activity over the coming months with the aim to share case studies and learning across forums. In addition, we are in the process of establishing a number of action learning sets to support regional and cross authority priorities and agendas including: support for HR/OD practitioners and leaders; exploring how to integrate workforce planning across partners; as well as Officers supporting Elected Member development. We are also in consultation with other public sector partners to look at action learning across sectors to support the promotion of partnership working, learning and collaboration.
If you are interested in finding out more about the action learning opportunities supported by North West Employers through this Gateway, or have an interest in supporting action learning within your organisation, then contact
Kelli Pickford.
If you have a specific interest in action learning within a community/neighbourhood setting then please contact
Helena Kettleborough, Neighbourhoods NW.
There has also been an offer to set up a writers’ workshop in conjunction with Liverpool John Moore’s University, for those keen on getting their work published but just don’t know where to start. The workshop would help people craft accounts of practice and/or peer review papers, or, indeed, reviews. If you are interested in attending such a session then please contact
Pat Wilson.
Click here for Action Learning on the HR Development Gateway.
Click here for Action Learning on the Workforce Gateway.