Action learning through radio: exploring conceptual views and lived experiences of women entrepreneurs

ABSTRACT

The concept of action learning looks at how people learn, which is using gained knowledge to create needful and beneficial change. As a result, real problems and concerns are the contexts for which programmed knowledge and questioning insights are set to allow for unlearning and learning. Using Reg Revans theory which assumes action learning as programmed knowledge and questioning insight (P + Q) and Jack Mezirow’s theory on transformative learning which engages critical thinking to create new perspectives, this paper reviews a radio show that discusses conceptual views and lived experiences of women entrepreneurs. It brings together practitioners and scholarly concepts in an engaging manner to encourage critical thinking and enable new perspectives for research, teaching and practice. Using an innovative technique to evaluate learning, we examine the social and relational dynamics of a radio programme, which examines the complexities of doing entrepreneurship of two female entrepreneurs who operate in Africa (Nigeria and South Africa) and three who operate in the UK. The paper uses a reflective writing approach and narrative analysis to interpret the findings that evidence action learning in the process.

KEYWORDS:

• Action learning
• transformational learning women studies
• entrepreneurship

Notes on contributors

Loliya Agbani Akobo is a Lecturer in Human Resource Management at the Liverpool Business School, Liverpool John Moores University. Her current research area include diversity management at the national and organisational level, Leadership in business and exploring the concept of entrepreneurship for scholarly practice.