History of Action Learning

Reg Revans, who is considered the Father of Action Learning, first articulated and implemented the Action Learning approach in the United Kingdom.

In the late 1930s, Reg Revans was studying for his doctoral dissertation, doing research at the Cavendish Laboratories alongside more than a dozen current or future Nobel Laureates. Revans noticed that when these great scientists were faced with difficult research problems, they would sit down together and ask one another lots of questions. None of them was considered more important than any other and they all had contributions to make, even when they were not experts in a particular field. In this way they reach workable solutions to their research problems. Revans was struck by this powerful technique.

Beginning in the mid-1940s, Revans began to develop his philosophy and the theoretical premises for action learning. After his research and experiments with coal mines in England and hospitals in London, Revans began his most monumental effort involving action learning in Belgium in 1960s, where he spent about 10 years working with a consortium of universities and industries to improve the Belgian economy, which achieved striking results.

Some years later, Professor Reg Revans formalized the cogent and tested theory which is now the cornerstone of many management and organizational development programs.

Together with action learning, action-reflection learning is also part of the traditional action learning, which puts emphasis on the reflection process.

Compared to the above mentioned approaches, Business Driven Action Learning, which is first articulated by Dr. Yury Boshyk, has a very emphatic business focus that integrates company-wide learning with individual executive development teamwork.

Over the years, many world best corporations and organizations have utilized this approach in the design and delivery of executive development programs tailored to their specific challenges, issues, industries and competitive strategies.

Sources:
Business Driven Action Learning – Global Best Practices Edited by Dr. Yury Boshyk, 2002
Action Learning: Images and Pathways by Robert L. Dilworth and Verna J. Willis, 2003