Fourth Quadrant Partners, LLC

Fourth Quadrant Partners is a partnership of consultant/

researchers dedicated to building deep capacity to learn and

adapt to dynamic and changing conditions in the social sector,

using the tools and practices of Emergent Learning.

Emergent Learning is, quite literally, learning that emerges

from real work. It is based on the premise that, in complex and

fluid environments, you cannot write the handbook fast

enough. The dilemma of such environments is finding the time

and structure to learn from and with peers, in order to improve

results in real time.

Our consulting work ranges from helping teams and networks

develop a robust theory of success; to helping networks grow

know-how around complex challenges through peer learning,

using EL Tables; to supporting organizations as they learn

through implementation, using Before and After Action

Reviews. We provide facilitation, training and coaching, as

well as technical assistance in assessing, designing and

implementing learning strategies and practices for

organizations and networks.

For more information about our research and

consulting services, please visit us on the web at

www.4qpartners.com.

EL Tables are

more than a

tool. They are

a blueprint for

how living

systems learn.

—Arie de Geus

Emergent Learning Tables An Emergent Learning Tool for

Growing Know-How Together

INSIGHTS

FRAMING QUESTION:

What will it take for us to…? How can we…?

PAST

THIN

KIN

G

STORIES AND DATA

Compare stories Successes/Failures

Defining moments Compare projects

There are many ways to explore past experience

The Making of a Great Insight…

REQUESTS...

Be responsible to each other (for learning with your peers and for being on time)

Be an “expert among experts”

Be a scientist (ground your opinions with evidence)

Be a learner (humble & curious)

Specific and grounded. About the past. Situational. Cause and Effect.

Vague and generalized (“Leadership is important”).

C

B

A

FACTS &

EVENTS

Thinking about the past:

What we’ve learned from what has already happened.

Past actions:

Key moments or stories in the past from which we can learn.

OPPORTUNITIES

HYPOTHESES

FRAMING QUESTION:

What will it take for us to…? How can we…?

FUTURE

A PLAN TO ACT AND LEARN

Our opportunity…

Our framing question…

Our hypotheses…

Actions to apply hypotheses…

How we will gauge results…

How and when we will learn...

The Making of a Great Hypothesis…

Pronouncements (“shoulds” and “musts”); absolutes (always and never).

“Given that [situation X], if we [take action Y], then we will [achieve result Z].” (And be able to say why.)

© 2012 Fourth Quadrant Partners, LLC.

Future actions:

Upcoming opportunities to test our thinking in action.

Thinking about the future:

Given what we’ve learned, what we think will make us successful next time.