News from the attic: Teaching smart people how to learn

In his Harvard Business Review article “Teaching smart people how to learn” published in May-June 1991, Chris Argyris introduced the concept of double-loop learning. His examination of case review among high-flying consultants found they externalised the causes of difficulties rather than recognising that their own behaviours may have contributed. Argyris observes that actions are designed so as:

To remain in unilateral control
To maximise “winning” and minimise “losing”
To suppress negative feelings
To be as “rational” as possible

These are antithetical to good learning. Any organisation that wants to get better at learning needs to recognise that these exist. As a way of dealing with them, Argyris suggests that we should examine the process of review, how we feel and our expectations of each other, as well as the content – what is in effect the double loop.

News from the attic: Teaching smart people how to learn

Calvert Markham