Reg Revans - action learning pioneer

The concept of action learning was developed in the 1940's by original management thinker Reg Revans (14 May 1907 – 8 January 2003). His extraordinary 96 years encompassed many successful achievements from competing in the Olympics, working as an astrophysicist, educational administrator and university professor to the culmination of his career as an international management consultant.

Revans is probably best known for pioneering a new process for management development which he called "action learning". Recreating his early experiences of the benefits of a scientific research laboratory where colleagues share and compare problems, ideas and solutions, he transferred these "action learning" techniques to management development programmes for the National Coal Board. Enabling managers to learn from each other's best practice he put them into groups which he called action learning sets. Here they could gain support and confidence from peers and introduce new ways of working. He was able to demonstrate that action learning was successful by measuring coal pit productivity.

Revans was convinced that for an organisation to survive its rate of learning must be at least equal to the rate of change in its external environment – this became known as Revans' Law.

Action learning has developed over the last sixty years as a method for individual and organisational development. As a process action learning can be challenging and informative. Within organisations Reg Revans described it as "the upward communication of doubt" – an opportunity for individuals to engage in learning and identify action which could make a positive difference to the organisation's effectiveness. For example, he was one of the first to introduce to the National Health Service the idea that nurses, doctors and administrators needed to listen to and understand each other – and action learning sets offer the opportunity.

"those best able to help in developing the self are those comrades in adversity who also struggle to understand themselves"
Reg Revans

For more information on the origins of action learning contact the International Foundation for Action Learning, click here