Learning and collaboration

Begin with a shared question

Useful collaboration starts with a question that benefits from more than one perspective. A practitioner can explain constraints that a model misses. A researcher can challenge an assumption that everyday practice takes for granted. An industry specialist can identify where a general argument needs to be reconsidered.

A clear starting brief describes the problem, why it matters, what is already known and what remains uncertain. It also identifies the contribution each participant could make, whether that is experience, a method, publicly available evidence or a different interpretation of the same facts.

Work through cases and competing explanations

A case discussion can examine the information available at the time of a decision, the alternatives considered and the consequences that followed. Separating the quality of the original reasoning from the eventual outcome helps a group learn without relying on hindsight.

A methods discussion can compare approaches to the same question: which variables each approach includes, what it leaves out and how its conclusions might be tested. The Academy provides the related context for enquiries about structured professional and executive learning.

Propose a contribution

Proposals can concern a research question, an editorial contribution, an applied method or a learning discussion. Explain the intended audience, the expected output and the evidence or experience that makes the proposal useful. Identify any restrictions on material before sharing it.

Send an enquiry to WalsonParker with a concise outline and the best way to contact you. Scope, responsibilities, use of information and any publication arrangements can then be discussed for the specific proposal.