Portuguese Army lesson learning: challenges and opportunities in a volatile environment

The potential of lessons learned processes will only be realised with a realistic understanding about the barriers to the effective adoption of lessons learned processes. The NATO Lessons Learned Handbook and its lessons learned process is generally aligned with leading academic work on the fundamentals of lessons-learned process good practice and provides some important guidance (Dyson 2019). However, not much is known about what constitutes good practice in lessons learned process, nor how to foster an environment that is more conducive to lesson learning within the wider armed forces. Research in these areas is confined to a handful of case studies, mostly of larger NATO Armed Forces and focuses largely on the experience of lessons learning during stabilisation and counterinsurgency operations. Further research is needed to develop better knowledge and understanding about the lesson learning challenges faced by smaller NATO member states, lesson learning from training exercises for high intensity warfare, as well as good practices which have emerged from these contexts.