Researching Learning in Action: Action Learning Research for Creativity and Innovation Management

ABSTRACT Creativity and innovation management involve action and learning: action to create and innovate and learning to understand so as to replicate and develop. This article explores action learning research as a methodology of relevance to creativity and innovation management scholars when inquiring and intervening with academic and practitioner co‐researchers in dynamic contexts, enabling knowledge production in real time. It positions action learning research in relation to action learning and action‐oriented inquiry and presents the philosophical foundations of action learning research: system alpha (identifying and characterising a problem in its setting); system beta (inquiring rigorously into the cycles of action, questioning and reflection undertaken to address the problem); and system gamma (articulating the resultant practical outcomes and actionable knowledge). The article concludes with actionable implementation guidelines for researchers and implications for research practice and researcher education.