The Action Learning MBA The economic recession of the 1980รขs with its climate of rapidly changing and unpredictable demands on managers demonstrated that the traditional approach to management education was inadequate. Consequently, a major shift in the focus of management education was necessary, with an emphasis on improvisation, innovation, flexibility and the willingness to take risks. This called for a new, entrepreneurial mentality, where education should follow closely the practice of successful management. Textbooks did not hold the solutions to new situations, a concerted group based explorative and investigative approach was required.