This account of practice details the experiences of two doctoral students, on a DBA programme in the UK, as participants in an action learning set. It outlines the background to setting up the action learning set and describes early assumptions made by the students in relation to action learning structures. It highlights the initial difficulties which beset the group and their impact on the participants. The action sets were not proving satisfactory and following dialogue with the programme leaders it was agreed that the structure should be adapted, the impact of these changes is explored. Furthermore, the importance of the application of action learning and community of practice in the workplace is discussed.