What Are Learning Teams, and Why Use Them?

Learning teams are collaborative groups that analyse workplace issues to uncover systemic improvements. They foster worker engagement, focus on "work as done," and promote sustainable solutions.

Learning teams serve as collaborative groups dedicated to examining workplace incidents, near-misses, and challenging work with an emphasis on learning and enhancement instead of assigning blame. These teams unite diverse perspectives from employees across all organisational levels, including frontline workers, supervisors, and other relevant stakeholders, fostering a dynamic environment for discussion and reflection. By nurturing an atmosphere of open dialogue, learning teams invite participants to share their experiences, insights, and concerns freely, without fear of judgment or repercussions. This collective approach not only deepens the understanding of the issues but also cultivates a culture where individuals feel recognised and empowered to engage in safety conversations.

A fundamental aspect of learning teams is their focus on systemic problem solving. Instead of merely determining who might be responsible for a situation, these teams probe further to reveal the underlying systemic factors that may have contributed to an incident. This process involves scrutinising various elements such as processes, communication patterns, equipment functionality, and organisational policies. By aligning with contemporary safety management principles, learning teams transition the focus from punitive actions to constructive assessments, allowing organisations to implement sustainable improvements that bolster overall safety and operational effectiveness. Ultimately, this collaborative and non-punitive approach builds trust, enhances relationships between employees and management, and fosters a proactive safety culture centred on continuous improvement.

What Are Learning Teams?

A learning team is a facilitated group of workers, supervisors, and relevant stakeholders who come together to understand an issue, incident, or process. Unlike traditional investigation methods, learning teams prioritise understanding "work as done" (how work actually occurs) and uncovering insights to improve systems and practices.

Why Use Learning Teams?

1. Foster Collaborative Learning

   • Learning teams create an environment where everyone can share their experiences and perspectives without fear of judgment.
   • Workers who perform the tasks provide critical insights into operational realities.

2. Focus on Systems, Not Blame

   • The goal is to identify systemic factors influencing behaviours and outcomes rather than assigning individual fault.
   • This approach leads to sustainable improvements in processes and systems.

3. Encourage Worker Engagement

   • Involving workers in discussions empowers them and builds ownership of solutions.
   • Workers are more likely to embrace changes when they have contributed to the process.

4. Promote Continuous Improvement

   • Learning teams focus on identifying practical and actionable solutions that enhance safety and operational efficiency.
   • The process helps organisations adapt to evolving risks and challenges.

5. Strengthen Safety Culture

   • Open discussions and shared learning build trust and collaboration, reinforcing a positive safety culture.

How to Conduct a Learning Team

1. Define the Purpose

   • Identify the issue, difficult work or incident to be analysed, such as a near-miss, hazard, or recurring operational challenge.
   • Clearly state the goals of the session (e.g., uncover root causes and develop practical solutions).

2. Assemble the Team

   • Include workers, supervisors, and stakeholders directly involved or knowledgeable about the issue.
   • Select a facilitator to guide the discussion and ensure inclusivity.

3. Create a Safe Environment

   • Establish ground rules to promote open dialogue and respect.
   • Reassure participants that the goal is learning, not assigning blame.

4. Understand Work as Done

   • Explore how tasks are performed in real life versus how they are imagined in procedures.
   • Use questions like:
     • What happened?
     • What went well?
     • What challenges did you face?

5. Analyse Contributing Factors

   • Identify factors influencing behaviour, such as workload, equipment, communication, or training.
   • Focus on systemic issues rather than individual actions.

6. Develop Practical Solutions

   • Brainstorm actionable recommendations to address identified issues.
   • Prioritise solutions based on feasibility, effectiveness, and alignment with organisational goals.

7. Document and Share Insights

   • Compile findings and share them with relevant stakeholders to ensure organisation-wide learning.
   • Use insights to update procedures, training, or risk assessments.

8. Follow-Up

   • Monitor the implementation of solutions and evaluate their effectiveness.
   • Use feedback to refine and improve the learning team process.

When to Use Learning Teams

• Following incidents or near-misses to uncover systemic issues.
• Analysing recurring challenges or risks in operations.
• Reviewing new processes or equipment to identify potential improvements.

Benefits of Learning Teams

• Enhance worker engagement and ownership of safety.
• Generate actionable insights to improve systems and processes.
• Strengthen trust and collaboration between workers and management.
• Drive continuous improvement in safety and operational performance.

Learning teams function as collaborative groups that delve into workplace challenges to identify systemic improvements. By uniting diverse perspectives from various organisational levels, these teams cultivate a wealth of insights that truly reflect the complexities of the work environment. They actively engage workers by empowering them to share their experiences and contribute to discussions, which not only aids in pinpointing problems but also facilitates the development of practical and effective solutions.

By concentrating on "work as done," learning teams highlight the significance of understanding how tasks are executed in practice, moving beyond mere reliance on established procedures or assumptions. This focus enables a more precise diagnosis of the challenges encountered and opens the door to targeted improvements.

Furthermore, learning teams advocate for sustainable solutions by tackling the root causes of issues rather than simply addressing symptoms. This systemic approach ensures that solutions extend beyond temporary fixes, leading to lasting enhancements in safety and operational efficiency.

Ultimately, this contemporary method bolsters safety culture by nurturing an environment of trust and collaboration. When employees feel secure in voicing their concerns and sharing their insights, it fosters a proactive atmosphere where continuous improvement becomes a collective responsibility. Consequently, organisations reap the benefits of a more engaged workforce committed to maintaining high safety standards and achieving operational excellence.