The use of action learning sets on a DBA programme – an account of practice from the students’ perspective

ABSTRACT

This account of practice details the experiences of two doctoral students, on a DBA programme in the UK, as participants in an action learning set. It outlines the background to setting up the action learning set and describes early assumptions made by the students in relation to action learning structures. It highlights the initial difficulties which beset the group and their impact on the participants. The action sets were not proving satisfactory and following dialogue with the programme leaders it was agreed that the structure should be adapted, the impact of these changes is explored. Furthermore, the importance of the application of action learning and community of practice in the workplace is discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Action learning
• adaptive action learning
• action learning sets
• community of practice

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Dorothy Bird

Dorothy Bird is a DBA student in Liverpool John Moores University. Her research focuses on the use of experiential marketing strategies for small and medium tourism enterprises. She is a lecturer in marketing and hospitality management in Letterkenny Institute of Technology, and has over 20 years’ experience in management and entrepreneurship in the hospitality industry.

Patrice Duffy

Patrice Duffy is a DBA student in Liverpool John Moores University, and a lecturer in hospitality management in Letterkenny Institute of Technology, Co. Donegal. Her research focuses on how an agile approach to talent management could be utilised by the Irish Hospitality Industry to close the skills gap.