Open University Organisational Learning

This paper proposes to undertake an action learning research project to build an effective Organisational Learning (OL) environment in the Met, by investigating current practices and developing a supportive and influential learning environment in conjunction with the Open University Centre for Policing Research and Learning.



The total cost of the project is £249,983 to be met from a combination of Met funding and OU/OU consortium grant funding. The project lifespan is over a 2 year 4 month period.

The Met funding requested amounts to £172,003 to be funded from the Major Change Fund, given the project’s importance to the OMM Blueprint for shaping behavioural change. The project will be further supported by a contribution from OU and OU Consortium of £77,980.

The DMPC is asked to approve;

• The funding by MPS of the OU Organisational Learning action learning research project, at a revenue cost of £172,003 over a three year period (from 2017/18-2019/20), to be funded from the Major Change Fund.

• Accept grant funding of £77,980 from the OU and OU Consortium to support the project, which is made up of £20,000 cash contribution and £57,980 of project team staffing.

1. Introduction and background

1.1. The Met is undergoing significant and multiple strategic and operational changes, including new and emerging structures, roles, interfaces, processes and technologies. A core concern of the Met’s People agenda is to understand and improve the ways in which knowledge and learning are developed, deployed and shared, and to support the Met’s transformation model. Building a culture of organisational learning is integral to behavioural change factored into the OMM Blueprint.

1.2. In June 2016 the Met’s Strategy and Governance OL team’s recommendation was to work with the Open University, through the OU Centre for Policing Research and Learning (and the embedded policing Consortium of which the Met is a member), to evaluate the learning environment and recommend means to develop a mature learning organisation.

2. Issues for consideration

2.1. The OU OL project will be complemented, and supported by, emerging Met structures and processes including the establishment of a new dedicated Organisational Learning Board. The OU OL project group will assure the OL Board in addition to quarterly milestone reporting by the OU team to that Board.

3. Financial Comments

3.1. The project costs are based on staffing, travel and overheads. Cost profiling is shown below.

3.2. The OU contribution includes funds from the OU Consortium in order to share learning from the Met OL project with other forces; and funding for a share of office costs, computing support and administration.

3.3. MPS will draft a grant agreement for the Open University action learning research following MOPAC approval to meet the agreed delivery and payment schedule.

4. Legal Comments

4.1. There are no legal implications arising from this proposal.

5. Equality Comments

5.1. There are no direct equality or diversity implications arising from this report. Any contributory factors identified during the action learning research during 2018 and 2019 will be flagged.

6. Background/supporting papers

6.1. None.