Codifying implementation guidelines for a collaborative improvement initiative

The application of action learning in inter-organizational settings is largely undeveloped. This article presents a description of and reflection on an action learning approach to enabling collaborative improvement in the extended manufacturing enterprise. The article focuses in particular on implementing the action learning approach. However, the contribution of this piece goes beyond the particular setting of collaborative improvement in the extended manufacturing enterprise. Of particular significance is the process of developing a set of guidelines for managers, <italic>implementation guidelines</italic>, codifying emergent organizational experience of managers for application in other settings. This development represents an application of action learning in the generation of actionable knowledge for managers and researchers.