What is an Organization What is an Organization that it May Learn?that it May Learn?

Renea La HartRenea La HartPA302PA302

March 27, 2006March 27, 2006

How do individuals learn?How do individuals learn?

• Ways that we have learnedWays that we have learnedThrough HistoryThrough History– Great Depression - Cold WarGreat Depression - Cold War– Civil Rights - 911Civil Rights - 911– Vietnam - Katrina Vietnam - Katrina

Through Trial and ErrorThrough Trial and Error Through experience of othersThrough experience of others

Individual LearningIndividual Learning

Human Learning can be said to exists Human Learning can be said to exists with the construction, testing and with the construction, testing and restructuring of an certain kind of restructuring of an certain kind of knowledgeknowledge

ParadoxParadox

Organizations are not merely collections of Organizations are not merely collections of individuals, yet there is no organization individuals, yet there is no organization without such collections. without such collections.

Organizational learning is not merely Organizational learning is not merely individual learning, yet organizations learn individual learning, yet organizations learn only through the experience and actions of only through the experience and actions of individuals.individuals.

Organizational learning is not the same Organizational learning is not the same thing as individual learningthing as individual learning

When is an Organization an When is an Organization an Organization?Organization?

• An organization is an organization when:An organization is an organization when:

– Making decisions in the name of collectivityMaking decisions in the name of collectivity– Delegating to individuals the authority to Delegating to individuals the authority to

act for the collectivityact for the collectivity– Setting boundaries between the collectivity Setting boundaries between the collectivity

and the rest of the worldand the rest of the world

Quotes from Schon …Quotes from Schon …

• ““There is no stable state. Our There is no stable state. Our organizations live in economic, political, organizations live in economic, political, and technological environments which and technological environments which are predictably unstable”are predictably unstable”

• ““The requirement for organizational The requirement for organizational learning is not an occasional, sporadic learning is not an occasional, sporadic phenomenon, but is a continuous and phenomenon, but is a continuous and endemic to our society”.endemic to our society”.

How Organizations learnHow Organizations learn

• Single Loop LearningSingle Loop Learning

• Double Loop LearningDouble Loop Learning

• Deutero-Learning (Second-Order Deutero-Learning (Second-Order Learning)Learning)

Process begins with Mental Process begins with Mental MapsMaps

• Starting point was that people have Starting point was that people have mental maps with regard to how to act in mental maps with regard to how to act in situations. This involves they way they situations. This involves they way they plan, implement and review their actions.plan, implement and review their actions.

• These maps guides people’s actions rather These maps guides people’s actions rather than theories that they espouse.than theories that they espouse.

• As a result, there is a split between theory As a result, there is a split between theory and action.and action.

Theories of ActionTheories of Action

• Espoused theoryEspoused theory

– Is the theory one gives allegiance to and Is the theory one gives allegiance to and communicates to otherscommunicates to others

– The words we use to convey what we, do or The words we use to convey what we, do or what we would like others to think we dowhat we would like others to think we do

• Theory-In-UseTheory-In-Use- Is what is actually performedIs what is actually performed- Theories in what we do as practitioners and Theories in what we do as practitioners and

managersmanagers

Model for Theory-In-UseModel for Theory-In-Use

Govern VariablesGovern Variables

Action StrategiesAction Strategies

ConsequencesConsequences

Theory in UseTheory in Use

• Governing variables are those dimensions Governing variables are those dimensions that people are trying to keep within that people are trying to keep within acceptable limitsacceptable limits

• Action Strategies are the moves and plans Action Strategies are the moves and plans people used by people to keep their people used by people to keep their governing values within acceptable range.governing values within acceptable range.

• Consequences is what happens as a result Consequences is what happens as a result of an action.of an action.

Single-Loop learningSingle-Loop learning

• Single-Loop Learning Single-Loop Learning

- involves the detection and correction of - involves the detection and correction of errorerror

- strategy is to look for another operation - strategy is to look for another operation that will address and work within the that will address and work within the governing variablesgoverning variables

- given, or chosen goals, values, plans, and - given, or chosen goals, values, plans, and rules are operationalized rather than rules are operationalized rather than questionedquestioned

Single-Loop LearningSingle-Loop Learning

• Single loop learning appears to be Single loop learning appears to be present when goals, values, present when goals, values, frameworks, and to a significant frameworks, and to a significant extent, strategies are taken for extent, strategies are taken for granted. The emphasis is on granted. The emphasis is on ‘techniques and making techniques ‘techniques and making techniques more efficient’. (any reflection is more efficient’. (any reflection is directed toward making the strategy directed toward making the strategy more effective)more effective)

Double-Loop LearningDouble-Loop Learning

• Double-Loop LearningDouble-Loop Learning– when one questions the governing when one questions the governing

variables and subject them to critical variables and subject them to critical scrutinyscrutiny

– Such learning may then lead to an Such learning may then lead to an alteration in the govern variablesalteration in the govern variables

– Shift in the way in which strategies and Shift in the way in which strategies and consequences are framedconsequences are framed

Double-Loop LearningDouble-Loop Learning

• Double Loop learning, in contrast to Double Loop learning, in contrast to single loop learning involves the single loop learning involves the questioning the role of the framing questioning the role of the framing and learning systems which underlie and learning systems which underlie actual goals and strategies.actual goals and strategies.

Analogy for Single-Double Analogy for Single-Double LoopLoopWhen the error detected and corrected permits the When the error detected and corrected permits the

organization to carry on its present policies or organization to carry on its present policies or achieve its presents objectives, then that error-achieve its presents objectives, then that error-and-corrections process is single-loop learning. and-corrections process is single-loop learning. Single-loop learning is like a thermostat that Single-loop learning is like a thermostat that learns when it is too hot or too cold and turns the learns when it is too hot or too cold and turns the heat on or off. The thermostat can perform this heat on or off. The thermostat can perform this task because it can receive information (the task because it can receive information (the temperature of the room) and take corrective temperature of the room) and take corrective action. Double-loop learning occurs when error is action. Double-loop learning occurs when error is detected and corrected in ways that involve the detected and corrected in ways that involve the modification of an organization’s underlying modification of an organization’s underlying norms, policies and objectives. The upgrade of a norms, policies and objectives. The upgrade of a thermostat with programmable settings.thermostat with programmable settings.

Caveats with regards to the distinction Caveats with regards to the distinction between single- and double – loop learningbetween single- and double – loop learning

• If is often impossible in the real world context of If is often impossible in the real world context of organizational life to find inquiry cleanly organizational life to find inquiry cleanly separated from the uses of powerseparated from the uses of power

• Quality of inquiry may learn more or less well, yet Quality of inquiry may learn more or less well, yet their inquires may still qualify as learning of the their inquires may still qualify as learning of the single or double kindsingle or double kind

• Distinction between single and double loop Distinction between single and double loop learning is less a binary one. Organizational learning is less a binary one. Organizational theories-in-use are systemic structures composed theories-in-use are systemic structures composed of many interconnected partsof many interconnected parts

• In judging whether learning is single or double, it In judging whether learning is single or double, it is important to notice where inquiry goes as well is important to notice where inquiry goes as well as where it begins. as where it begins.

Deutero LearningDeutero Learning

• Organizations that can restructure itself at Organizations that can restructure itself at regular intervals so as to exploit new regular intervals so as to exploit new technologies generated by research and technologies generated by research and development development

• They reflect on and inquiry into previous They reflect on and inquiry into previous contexts for learningcontexts for learning

• They reflect on and inquire into previous They reflect on and inquire into previous episodes of organizational learning, or episodes of organizational learning, or failure to learnfailure to learn

• Organizational learning curveOrganizational learning curve

Duetero-Learning ModelDuetero-Learning Model

• They discover what they did that facilitated or They discover what they did that facilitated or inhibited learning,inhibited learning,

• They invent new strategies for learningThey invent new strategies for learning• They produce these new strategiesThey produce these new strategies• They evaluate and generalize what they have They evaluate and generalize what they have

producedproduced• The results come encoded in individual images The results come encoded in individual images

and maps are reflected in organizational learning and maps are reflected in organizational learning practice.practice.

• Reflect on and inquire into previous contexts for Reflect on and inquire into previous contexts for learninglearning