It would achieve:

Progress beyond reporting and auditing

Adaptive learning should lead to adaptive behaviour if effective pathways for transforming knowledge into mechanisms of change are developed. This can also be achieved through experiential (learning by doing) approaches.

Mandate, capacity and influence

Without the mandate to effect the necessary changes emerging from lessons learnt, organisations will be frustrated in their attempts to generate change. Adaptive learning organisations can often achieve outcomes beyond their organisational ambit through networking or collaborative approaches with other organisations.

Trust, openness and respect

Trust is critical in any learning environment. In complex coastal systems where boundaries are not always clear and responsibilities overlapping, trust often needs to be built between organisations through a culture of openness and respect to achieve system outcomes. Clarity in organisational goals, values and capacity is an important first step in establishing effective relationships.

Flexibility, innovation and resilience

An adaptive learning organisation should begin to demonstrate increased capabilities and capacities when confronted with surprise events and situations of rapid change. These capacities are generated by a commitment to increased flexibility, diversity in options, and openness to novel approaches to problem definition and potential solutions. This is an active and ongoing process throughout all levels of the organisation.

A 'learning culture'

Establishing an adaptive learning culture should generate a sustainability perspective underpinned by continuous cycles of learning and adaptation.

" Adaptation is the cornerstone of an adaptive learning organisation"