After Action Review: Barriers and enablers to implementation (4 June 2024)

Summary

In this blog, Judy Walker unpicks the findings of the Irish Safety Culture and After Action Review Experience study (iCAARE) which describes the enablers and barriers to the successful integration of After Action Review (AAR). The paper highlights the gaps between the expectations held by newly trained AAR Conductors and the reality of implementing AAR. The blog highlights the following recommended actions from the paper:

• Reduce the time lag between equipping staff with the skills to lead AARs and the immediate reinforcement and promotion of AAR following training. 
• Invest in structures and processes to make access to AAR easy and widely understood. 
• Ensure there is a pipeline of AAR work to be done for those newly trained. 
• Provide active and visible leadership for the AAR approach. 
• Recognise the emotional reaction pattern that participants may have as they start to use AAR, building confidence in individuals and providing support as they move from novice to expert.