Explore, Experiment, Experience: A Synthesis of Vickers’ Appreciative Learning System and Ackoff’s Problem Approach Applied in Practice

This chapter will explore the application of a problem-structuring approach which synthesizes Vickers’ concept of ‘appreciation’, Bateson’s learning spirals and Ackoff’s approach to dealing with problems. This problem-structuring approach involves three elements: explore, experiment, experience. The chapter describes, as an example, a case study taken from a UK unitary authority (anonymized for convenience) in which attempts were made to improve project performance using this approach. The organization commissioned projects across multiple disciplines, for example, transport schemes, constructions, change programs, business improvements using IT and bridge replacements but was rated as poor at project management by successive internal and external reviews. Some conclusions are offered about the application of problem-structuring in order to learn lessons and promote good practice for the future.