Learning Histories

This paper from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) provides a detailed discussion of the benefits of using learning histories to understand the learning and change taking place in an organisation.

Excerpt

"Noteworthy characteristics of a learning history are that: (i) it takes a systems view of organizations; (ii) it makes extensive use of narrative and cuts back and forth between different recollections to generate multiple stories; (iii) it brings assumptions, reactions, and implications to light; (iv) it helps people tell stories without fear of being judged, measured, and evaluated—assessment is not emotionally neutral territory; (v) it dissolves hierarchical privileges and makes for conversations among equals; (vi) it does not directly explicit the knowledge embodied, unlike “lessons learned” and good practices: rather, the actors must construct and surface tacit knowledge from the events or circumstances and their own experiences and discussions of them; (vii) it helps learn from both the good and the not-so-good; and (viiii) it catalyzes double-loop thinking and reconsideration of values, reasoning, impulses, or practices to achieve a desired future." (Serrat, 2011)

Sources

Serrat, O. Asian Development Bank, (2011). Learning histories (November 2011 | 109). Retrieved from website: http://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/learning-histories.pdf