Chris Argyris: theories of action, double-loop learning and organisational learning

Theories of action: theory in use and espoused theory

– people have mental maps with regard to how to act in situations; this involves the way they plan, implement and review their actions; they assert that it is these maps that guide people’s actions rather than the theories they explicitly espouse

– the words we use to convey that we do, or what we would like others to think we do, can be called espoused theory; when someone is asked how he or she would behave under certain circumstances, the answer he or she usually gives is his or her espoused theory of action for that situation; the theory that actually governs his actions however is this theory-in-use

– Theory-in-use

Governing variables     those dimensions that people are trying to keep within accepting limits. Any action is likely to impact upon a number of such varials. Thus any situation can trigger a trade-off among governing variables.

Action strategies     the moves and plans used by people to keep their governing values within the acceptable range

Consequences     what happens as a result of an actions. These can be both intended and unintended. Additionally, those consequences can be for the self and for others.

– where the consequences of the strategy used are what the person wanted, then the theory-in-use is confirmed

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Maybe those cool cats Donnie, Gretchen and Frank were behind all that…

Who the hell is Chris Argyris?