ABSTRACT
In 1996, the European Commission accepted a proposal from the Irish Management Institute for an action learning initiative aimed at developing a model that would help managers and organizations develop the capabilities of organizational learning. The model envisaged an engagement in action learning groups in a range of interorganizational networks clustered around some core themes. This chapter provides the foundational material on organizational learning, action learning, and the National Action Learning Programme (NALP). It focuses on action research into NALP and adopts Torbert's framework of first, second, and third person research in its approach to consolidating the research. The action research cycles of inquiry and action were applied to describing and understanding a key process in NALP: the role the interorganizational network groups played and the outcomes for the participating companies. The companies had a clear view on the level of their achievements against expectations.
