Seeing things w ith D onald Schön

1. Seeing things with Donald Schön ODN Europe Conference 7th May 2014

2. Inquiry “….inquiry begins with an indeterminate, problematic situation, a situation whose inherent conflict, obscurity, or confusion blocks action. And the inquirer seeks to make that situation determinate, thereby restoring the flow of activity.” (Argyris and Schön, 1996: 30-31, interpreting John Dewey) Figure Ground Consulting

3. Determining the situation LANGUAGE TOOL INQUIRY PROCESS Muddle, mess. Complex-bewildering • Metaphor • Transposition • Mutual adaption • Elaboration • Spelling out Name & Frame Figure Ground Consulting Unexpected consequences Create a Problem Act to resolve

4. Body of Practice “Once a case has entered into a practitioner’s repertoire he may be able to see a new case as that familiar one, the familiar one now acting as an exemplar for inquiry into the new one” (Schön and Rein, 1994: 205). Figure Ground Consulting

5. Over-determining the situation THE RISK • “With a hammer in hand everything looks like a nail” (Anon) THE MITIGATION • Reflexivity • Immersion in the client situation. Relevance over Rigour. • Self constraint around difference • Contained Frame Reflection Figure Ground Consulting

6. Organisation questions From the viewpoint of practice in large systems: • Organisations appear largely undetermined • There appears to be a fallacy of determination • Do managers disclose the organisation as they design & solve problems? • Are organisations completed by managers as they conserve & disclose them? Figure Groud Consulting