Achieving The Learning Organization:\
An Interagency After Action Review (AAR) Workshop

for Prescribed Fire and Fire Use Managers

Sponsored by the Interagency Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center and
leaders from the Great Basin Fire Use Community, the workshop will be
held on Thursday **April 15, 2004** in Salt Lake City, Utah:

**Workshop Location**:

*HOLIDAY INN HOTEL & SUITES -- AIRPORT*

#### 5575 West Amelia Earhart Drive

*Salt Lake City, UT 84116*

*(801) 537-7020 Phone*

*(801) 537-7701 FAX*

We have reserved 50 rooms under *After Action Review Workshop* at the
government rate of \$75 (excluding tax) per night*.* The block of rooms
will be held through Friday April 2, 2004. Room availability at the
government rate cannot be guaranteed after this date. Attendees should
stay at this hotel because the workshop will be in the hotel conference
room. There is a free shuttle available between the airport and the
hotel.

**Target Audience**:

Prescribed fire and wildland fire use managers (trainees, novices, and
experienced) responsible for the planning and implementation of fire use
events within the Great Basin are invited to participate in a "train the
trainer" session where they will learn how to implement the AAR process
in their operations. The AAR process is key to improving safe work
performance in all wildland fire operations. Although this workshop is
targeted for fire use managers, these concepts can be applied to all
fire management activities.

**Workshop Content:**

Harvard Business School Professor and [Learning in Action]{.underline}
author David Garvin will coordinate and instruct this one-day seminar
for up to 50 Great Basin prescribed fire and fire use managers. Garvin
has worked closely with the U.S. Army on their After Action Review (AAR)
process and the "learning after doing" concept. These concepts are
examined in his book and his teaching practices.

The workshop will consist of three parts, all applied to prescribed fire
and wildland fire use operations:

1)  Overview of the learning organization and its core processes

2)  View the US Army video on AARs and the Center for Army Lessons
    Learned and then discuss approaches to using AARs.

3)  Working in groups, students will practice effective AAR facilitation
    after viewing a prescribed burn AAR example and learning
    facilitation techniques.

Garvin will teach all sessions with the exception of Part 3 where he
will be assisted by the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center Managers
and the Great Basin Regional Fuels Specialist.

**After Action Reviews: Seizing the Chance to Learn**

The AAR process has been successfully institutionalized in many military
and private sector organizations. The process has become standard
operating procedure for capturing and disseminating critical
organizational knowledge. Like many other organizations, the prescribed
fire and fire use community continually experiences learning that
remains isolated, short-lived and trapped in the memories of individuals
or separate units. The AAR begins a process that consolidates, distills
and disseminates knowledge throughout the entire community of practice.
At both organizational and individual levels, AARs will help hone
prescribed fire and wildland fire use skills, knowledge and abilities.

In preparation for the workshop, please review the background
information on AARs at the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center Web site
at: <http://www.wildfirelessons.net/Special_Projects.htm>

### Schedule:

Thursday, April 15, 2004 7:45 a.m. -- 5:00 p.m.

### Registration: 

Registration is due by **Friday April 2, 2004.** There is no
registration fee or tuition for the workshop.

A completed NWCG nomination form

(available at <http://www.nartc.net/forms/nwcg_nom_form.pdf> or
<http://www.nartc.net/forms/nwcg_nom_form.rtf>) should be emailed or
faxed to the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center.

Email the nomination form to Dave Christenson @ <dchristenson@fs.fed.us>
*or* fax the form to the Lessons Learned Center at (520) 670-6413.

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# Participant Training Package:

In addition to the training, each participant will receive -

-   **[Learning in Action: A Guide to Putting the Learning Organization
    to Work]{.underline}** authored by David Garvin and published by the
    Harvard Business School Press

-   **AAR Videotape** to help others catch the vision of the AAR
    potential and assist the trainer in communicating the real value of
    institutionalizing AARs as a routine practice in prescribed fire

-   **The AAR Rollup Guide for Supervisors, Managers and Leaders**
    provided by the Interagency Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center

-   **A Handout describing the new on-line Community Center** for the
    prescribed fire/fire use community of practice. Learn how to post
    and view AAR Rollups at this Community Center page hosted by the
    Interagency Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center

**Workshop is sponsored by:**

Prescribed Fire and Fire Use/Learning Organization Advisory Group

to the Lessons Learned Center:

Dave Thomas, USFS, Ogden, UT

Brett Fay, USFS, Cedar City, UT

Guy Pence, USFS, Boise, ID

Mark Beighley, USFS, Washington, D.C.

Curtis Heaton, USF&WS, Buenos Aires Wildlife Refuge, AZ

Jim Cook, USFS, Boise, ID

Morgan Beveridge, BIA, Aberdeen, SD

Emily Irwin, FUTA, Albuquerque, NM

Geoff Babb, The Nature Conservancy

TBA, State/Local Representative

**For Additional Information:**

Paula Nasiatka (520) 670-6414 x121

Dave Christenson (520) 670-6414 x124

02/12/04

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