Operational learning is essential for organisational improvement, especially in crisis and emergency management, due to the significant impact of lessons on future outcomes. Ignoring past lessons is a major issue that leads to repeating old mistakes.
Challenges in Implementing Lessons
Although organisations often recognise the value in learning from past experiences, there is a notable gap when it comes to applying these “lessons learned.” The British Military’s term “lessons identified” underscores the persistent challenge of translating identified issues into actual problem-solving actions.
Human Nature and Organisational Dynamics
Addressing the inherent human resistance to change and criticism is another obstacle. Senior leaders may resist acknowledging past mistakes to protect personal investments or projects. Additionally, organisational processes may be manipulated to favour certain viewpoints or objectives, resulting in biased outcomes. Conflicting interpretations among different departments exemplify the difficulty of achieving a unified learning perspective, as seen in disparate reviews by the Armed Services or Emergency Services.
Accountability and Realising Change
True value from learning is achieved with accountability and clear responsibilities for incorporating the lessons into policies and operational procedures. This requires substantial commitment and resources to revise policies, training, and behaviour. Larger, more bureaucratic organisations face even greater challenges in this regard, particularly in the absence of support from senior management.
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