Evaluating action learning

For organizations that wish to use the action learning approach for development of staff, evaluating action learning is an important issue. Sponsors of a programme and staff developers will want to assess its effectiveness or value for the organization and for the staff who take part. This chapter sets out a process for evaluating action learning and here we draw on the work of Simons & McCormack (2002). In addition, we will convey some of the methods used, and the outcomes of specific evaluations undertaken for the benefit of the organizations sponsoring action learning, where we have been involved.