The Social Welfare Institutional Development Bureau does it again! After sharing the fruits of its Knowledge Management experience to the Office of the Vice President of the Philippines last May 2023, the Bureau was invited for another knowledge-sharing session by the same illustrious office. This time in an activity that they dubbed as “AARnyare: Conducting After Action Reviews”, held at Manaul Conference Room of OVP Central Office.
The OVP held the activity to hasten their progress from the early stages of Knowledge Management institutionalization. Their call for assistance was granted by no less than SWIDB’s energetic Director, Atty. Justin Caesar Anthony D. Batocabe.
To dispel misconceptions, the Director’s presentation painstakingly differentiated After-Action Review from Project Evaluation and Retrospective Review. He de-mystified AAR by describing it as a form of Lessons-learned Session, then took the time to explain how it is done step-by-step. He also elaborated on the benefits of AAR as a type of Knowledge Capture technique, and illustrated its use by describing the 2-pronged policy of US Army’s Center for Army Lessons Learned (CALL). Accordingly, CALL regularly holds an AAR after each operation, then uses its findings to plan for the next operation.
Finally, he described how DSWD embedded the After-Action Review in its system. This included figuring out a way to get support from the Execom; developing policies and guidelines, templates, etc. that people may use for reference; providing continuous orientations, training, technical assistance, and such to offices in the Central Office and the Field Offices; including it in the Office Performance Contract; installing a feedback system through office focal persons (called the KM team) which conducted quarterly meetings; and, developing or enhancing the policies and guidelines, templates, etc. that people use.
The participants were effusive in their appreciation for what they claim as a thoroughly extensive and informative presentation. Their acknowledgement was expressed in their comments relative to putting what they learned into immediate practice.