For More Information: Signet Research & Consulting, www.signetconsulting.com
Purpose:
To continually raise the bar on performance, build a culture of accountability, and sustain success in a changing environment.
Outcomes:
• Actionable knowledge against key performance measures
• Confident yet humble leaders, empowered teams
• Leadership, learning, and execution are integrated in the way work is done every day
• An agile organization that embraces change
When to Use:
• Where there are high stakes and/or complexity of interdependent actions and decision-making
• As a practical way to build or sustain a learning culture
• Built into existing operating cycles
When Not to Use:
• As a one-time, backward-looking postmortem
• With a team or who will not be expected to take action–focusing After Action Reviews (AARs) on creating reports or recommendations for others not present undermines the ability to use it as a living practice.
Number of Participants:
• 5–15 in a session (sessions can be cascaded to involve entire organization)
Types of Participants:
• Teams and leaders with direct responsibility for an action or mission. Interdependent teams can do Before Action Reviews (BARs) and AARs together
Typical Duration:
• Preparation: Collect performance data during action
• Depending on scope and skill: BAR: 15 minutes–2 hours; AAR:15 minutes–3 hours
• Follow-up is continuous—this is a cycle
Brief Example:
For Jeff Clanon of the Society of Organizational Learning, the ARC was a mechanism to get organizational members engaged in collectively taking responsibility for what happened in their quarterly meetings and acting on the implications of their discussions going forward. Using the BAR/AAR contributed to a step change in the way the coalesced in the last two years. Interactions became more grounded and disciplined, and embody what the organization preaches
Historical Context:
Originated in 1981 at the U.S.Army’s National Training Center, has evolved over 25 years. World’s Best Practitioners: NTC Opposing Force (11th ACR).
 Action Review Cycle
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