Guided reflection in Simulator-Based Crisis Management Training : Examining the possibility to implement After Action Reviews in the CCRAAAFFFTING project

Abstract: Reflection is an important team learning activity, allowing team members to process feedback and to learn from experiences. Debriefing methods such as the After Action Review (AAR), proved to increase learning, can be used to guide teams through the process of reflection. This thesis, commissioned by the Creating Collaborative Resilience Awareness, Analysis and Action for Finance, Food and Fuel Systems in INteractive Games (CCRAAAFFFTING) project, aims to investigating how current post-exercise discussions within the CCRAAAFFFTING project support reflection and whether or not AAR could be implemented. This study used an explorative, semi-experimental research design, containing two conditions - the current post-exercise discussions (condition 1) and AAR’s (condition 2). Data was collected through observations and questionnaires. Due to issues regarding validity, data from questionnaires given to participants, as well as comparisons of participants' subjective experiences between the two conditions, could not be used to provide any support for choosing one post-exercise discussion over the other. However, observations showed that the current post-exercise discussion did not support reflection, thus, making it beneficial to implement AAR. Proper implementation of AAR could not only support team learning, but also organizational learning by facilitating the transference of knowledge back to participants home organizations. This transferred knowledge, if used right by the organizations, could help increased resilience. However, AAR cannot simply be implemented, and this thesis concludes with a list of identified recommendations.