10kV debriefing

10kV: Listening, Understanding and Learning

Debriefing — Open — Honest — Real

10kV provides a structured, facilitated environment in which people can share experiences, challenge assumptions and identify what matters to them, without the usual constraints of hierarchy, rank or organisational position.

Debriefings conducted: 400+
Operational experience: 25 years

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Participants in an Open University 10kV workshop seated around tables with laptops — 10kV in practiceOpen University workshop

10kV and organisational learning

Organisations make decisions, respond to challenges and introduce change, but how often do they really understand the experiences and perspectives of the people involved?

10kV was developed by Professor Jonathan Crego through 25 years of operational experience and more than 400 debriefings to help organisations listen differently.

Originally developed within policing and emergency services, it has evolved into an established approach to organisational learning, cultural understanding, partnership working and strategic development.

Its underlying principle is simple: before organisations can learn from experience, they need to understand it.

Hearing what might otherwise remain unheard

Traditional debriefings and organisational consultations can be shaped by established agendas, seniority and the expectations of those leading the discussion.

Participants in 10kV contribute anonymously, enabling them to express their views openly, question accepted practices and raise issues that might otherwise remain unspoken.

Anonymity is about creating the conditions for greater candour and allowing different perspectives to emerge. It does not remove accountability or encourage criticism for its own sake.

People at different levels of an organisation may experience the same event or decision very differently. Those differences are often important, but they are not always visible to senior leaders or captured through conventional reporting processes.

10kV helps bring these perspectives into view, providing a richer understanding of how events, decisions and organisational practices are experienced by those involved.

An agenda shaped by participants

Rather than relying entirely on a predetermined set of questions, 10kV enables participants to identify and prioritise the matters they believe deserve attention.

The session begins with participants proposing issues and identifying which deserve further discussion. Topics are then opened for contributions, with multiple discussions taking place in parallel.

Participants can move between discussions, respond to the contributions of others and develop their thinking as different perspectives emerge.

Experienced facilitators support the process, maintaining a constructive environment whilst allowing participants' concerns and experiences to influence the direction of the session.

This approach can reveal differences between organisational assumptions and lived experience, alongside areas of agreement, shared concerns and opportunities for improvement.

From discussion to understanding

A 10kV session can generate thousands of individual written contributions, providing a substantial record of how participants understand an event, experience or organisational challenge.

Through AIQA, the Hydra Foundation's approach to supported qualitative analysis, this material can be examined systematically to identify recurring themes, relationships, differences in perspective and issues requiring further exploration.

AIQA has been developed using Foundation-controlled analytical tools and methods informed by extensive experience of operational and organisational debriefing.

The approach supports experienced analysts and facilitators in examining large volumes of qualitative material more consistently and efficiently, whilst preserving the ability to return to the original contributions.

It does not replace professional judgement or assume that participants' contributions provide a complete or objective account of events. It helps reveal patterns, connections, tensions and differences that might otherwise be difficult to identify.

Learn more about AIQA

Turning insight into organisational learning

The findings from a 10kV exercise can inform practical recommendations, action plans, strategic discussions and further organisational development.

Depending on the purpose of the exercise, reports may include:

A clear account of the principal themes emerging from participants' contributions.
Areas of agreement, disagreement and differing experiences.
Relationships between organisational challenges, behaviours and decisions.
Significant observations supported by the original qualitative evidence.
Issues that may require further investigation or discussion.
Practical recommendations and opportunities for improvement.
Action planning to support organisational learning and development.

10kV does not begin with the assumption that an organisation has failed or that its people necessarily disagree. It provides an opportunity to explore what is working, what might be improved and what can be learned from different perspectives.

The analysis provides evidence to support informed discussion, not a substitute for leadership judgement or organisational decision-making.

25 years of practice, over 400 debriefings

10kV has been developed, tested and refined through more than 400 operational and organisational debriefings over 25 years. Its applications have included major criminal investigations, critical incident debriefing, emergency response, multi-agency working, organisational culture, leadership and strategic development.

The methodology has its origins in Professor Jonathan Crego's work developing Hydra and structured approaches to examining decision-making, professional experience and organisational learning.

10kV during the COVID-19 pandemic

During the COVID-19 crisis, 18 remote 10kV debriefings were conducted through the Home Office C19 National Foresight Group.

These exercises brought together perspectives from across emergency response, government, Local Resilience Forums and the voluntary sector during an evolving national emergency.

The resulting analysis helped inform understanding of the operational challenges, experiences and emerging issues faced by organisations responding to the pandemic. Remote delivery enabled geographically dispersed participants to contribute to a shared process of reflection and learning.

Read the COVID-19 debriefing account

10kV in practice: Gwent Police

10kV has also been used to support organisational culture and development work.

Gwent Police's published 2024 account describes how a staff debrief contributed to a wider programme of organisational learning.

Read the Gwent Police case study

How sessions are delivered

10kV can be delivered in person, remotely or through a combination of approaches.

Participants access the system through a web browser on their own devices or equipment provided for the session. No specialist application needs to be installed.

Each participant is given an anonymous identity, maintaining separation between their real identity and their written contributions.

Sessions are guided by experienced facilitators who introduce the process, support discussions and help maintain a respectful and constructive environment.

Remote delivery enables participants from different locations and organisations to contribute to the same exercise, supporting multi-agency partnerships and geographically dispersed teams.

Following the session, contributions are retained for analysis using the Hydra Foundation's established methods and AIQA analytical capabilities. Data protection and confidentiality arrangements form part of planning the exercise.

Discuss a 10kV session

Whether conducting a post-incident debrief, exploring organisational culture, evaluating partnership working or preparing for change, 10kV provides a structured way to understand the perspectives of the people involved.

Contact the Hydra Foundation to discuss how a 10kV exercise could support your organisation.

Enquire about 10kV