Leadership and Double Loop Learning in Organizations (Article Sample)

Double Loop Learning in Organizations
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Double Loop Learning in Organizations
Argyris, C. (1977). Double Loop Learning in Organizations.Retrieved September 27 2016fromhttps://hbr.org/1977/09/double-loop-learning-in-organizations
Summary of Article
Double Loop Learning in Organizations is a helpful article written by Chris Argyris. The article elaborates an important concept in leadership, and it is much vital to most of the organization. Learning has been portrayed as the core pillar for organizations to support growth and survival in today’s business environment. Learning empowers employees with the capability of reporting to the management for the status of various divisions in the organization through the ability of uncovering errors and poor performing product lines. The article describes the process of acquisition of such skill with a method he refers to as the double loop learning (Argyris, 1977).
Organizational learning is a systematic process of identifying and rectifying errors. An error in the operation requires possession of specific features of knowledge to detect and correct. The method of enforcing current policies and objectives is compared with the thermostat that runs with only one specified condition. The author refers to this process as single loop learning and states that it is not futuristic as it is dictated by the modern organizational environment which is changing the day after the other. This situation has forced the organization to break the status quo to accommodate improvements in their products/service. Single loop learning can be a situation where managers and the marking division staffs are trying to detect and correct an error to manufacture a certain product. On the other hand, double loop learning could be when they began to impose questions on whether this product should be manufactured or not.
Double learning loop might impose a conflict of interest against norms of the organization and most particularly when Norm say that “hide errors” but the employees adhere to another norm that says “reveal errors.” This learning process emphasizes that employees should report the detected errors to the top management. Employees risk in getting into trouble in whichever norm they choose. The article clarifies two major systems of learning; through workshops and seminars. Th...