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HBR on KM: Ch. 4-6 Discussion. Osama Solieman 2 nd Year MIS Masters. Discussion Topics. Chris Argyris: Teaching Smart People How to Learn , 1991 Single Loop vs. Double Loop Maturity / Immaturity Theory Interview How does this relate to Knowledge Management?.
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HBR on KM: Ch. 4-6Discussion Osama Solieman 2nd Year MIS Masters
Discussion Topics • Chris Argyris: • Teaching Smart People How to Learn, 1991 • Single Loop vs. Double Loop • Maturity / Immaturity Theory • Interview • How does this relate to Knowledge Management?
Teaching Smart People How to Learn • “…most people don’t know how to learn” (p.82) • Learning is not problem-solving • Defensive reasoning is a sign of not knowing how to learn • People can be taught to reason in a new way • If leadership is trained to “learn”, they can impact the entire organization
Single Loop vs. Double Loop • Single-loop learning ignores governing variables such as goals, values, frameworks and strategies. • Double-loop learning involves consideration of the underlying assumptions behind the action strategy.
Maturity / Immaturity Model • Most individuals do not fully reach “maturity” • The traditional organizational pyramid is designed to keep employees “immature” • Employees at bottom are tools controlled by top people
ODJ Interview: 2003 • “…emotions are produced in the heads of human beings…No emotion is irrational. I think that I am focused on emotions but on discovering why a person feels that way and what can be done about it. Emotions can’t be disconnected from reality.” • “We get good at defensive reasoning, and then we get good at denying that we are good at defensive reasoning.“ • “The job of an effective leader is still to advocate, evaluate and make attributions, but to do so in a way that corresponds to reality, that can be tested. You do this by inviting others to confront your views and conclusions. “
Relation to Knowledge Management Problems: • Workers do not know how to learn • Defensive reasoning is an obstacle to organizational learning • Work is designed to promote single-loop learning • Pyramid structure Solutions: • Teaching employees how to learn • Removal of pyramid structure • Work needs to be restructured so that employees can develop
References • Harvard Business Review on Knowledge Management • http://www.infed.org/thinkers/argyris.htm • http://www.apa.org/divisions/div13/Update/2003Fall/ArgyrisInterview.pdf • http://www.accel-team.com/motivation/chris_argyris_00.html