Resources
These books are written by the founders and Master Coaches of the World Institute for Action Learning (WIAL). Drawing on decades of experience, they offer authoritative insights into action learning theory and practice, providing practical guidance, proven models, and real-world applications that reflect WIAL’s foundational principles and leadership in the field.
Optimizing the Power of Action Learning: Real-Time Strategies for Developing Leaders, Building Teams and Transforming Organizations (3rd. ed.)
by Michael Marquardt, Shannon Banks, Peter Cauwelier & Choon Seng Ng
This revised third edition explains how action learning addresses complex organizational challenges. Using case studies from companies like GE, Sony, and Boeing, plus government and nonprofits, it shows how action learning drives innovation, service improvement, cultural transformation, competitive advantage, sustained success, and introduces questioning techniques and creative organizational development strategies.
Breakthrough Problem Solving with Action Learning: Concepts and Cases
by Michael Marquardt, Roland K. Yeo
This second edition explains the theory, practice, and impact of action learning in addressing complex organizational challenges. Combining foundational concepts with real business cases, the book shows how structured questioning, reflection, and collaboration enable innovation. A cross-case analysis identifies key conditions that lead to effective, breakthrough solutions.
Leading with Questions: How Leaders Find the Right Solutions by Knowing What to Ask
(Revised & Updated version)
by Michael Marquardt
This explains how effective leaders use powerful questions to drive results and learning. Drawing on interviews with twenty-two successful leaders, the book shows how questioning encourages participation, creativity, empowerment, collaboration, customer relationships, and problem solving in today’s complex business environment and long-term organizational success globally.
Action Learning for Developing Leaders and Organizations: Principles, Strategies, and Cases
by Michael Marquardt, Skipton Leonard, Arthur Freedman & Claudia Hill
This book explains how Action Learning can be effectively implemented and sustained in any organization. It defines Action Learning as small groups solving real problems through questioning and reflection. Using global company case studies, it shows how the method develops leaders, improves performance, builds teams, and drives organizational transformation through six core components.
Building the Learning Organization: Achieving Strategic Advantage through a Commitment to Learning (3rd ed.)
by Michael Marquardt
This updated edition of Building the Learning Organization shows how organizations can continuously learn and turn knowledge into performance. Drawing on lessons from leading companies, it offers practical tools, case studies, and the Systems Learning Organization model to help managers build, sustain, and strengthen high-performing learning organizations in today’s competitive workplace.
Great Solutions through Action Learning: Success Every Time
by Skipton Leonard, Arthur Freedman
This book addresses a major gap in Action Learning literature by offering practical principles, strategies, and guidance for coaches on crafting effective questions. Beyond theory and project setup, it delivers actionable tools, new models, and practice-based insights that help both novice and experienced coaches ensure successful Action Learning projects outcomes.
Leading Organizational Change Using Action Learning
by Arthur Freedman, Skipton Leonard
Organizations face constant, unpredictable change and need tools to solve complex, unprecedented problems while learning from them. This book guides leaders in using action learning for systems change, consultant selection, and leadership development, detailing essential project elements, infrastructure, and leadership roles needed to ensure effective action learning and build learning organizations.
