Teaching smart people how to learn
Main Thesis
Today’s corporate environment is highly competitive, and for success companies first need to solve a basic problem. Learning dilemma is common in these days in almost all companies; particularly smart people find it most difficult to learn. Top management mostly is good in problem solving but is not able to look at the loop holes within the organization and solve those (Argyris, 1991). Edward (2005) also explained the reasons of why smart people actually underperform and those are linked with this paper. Furthermore Goffee and Jones (2013) also explained that effective organizations let the employees learn and give them clear, accurate information about everything.
Why did the author write the chapter?
Successful professionals are good at “single-loop” learning however they are poor at “double loop” learning due to various factors like extensive experience in solving real life problems. The main aim of author is to give guidelines to smart people for effective learning. It explains how professionals avoid learning and since these professionals rarely face failures they are unaware of ways of solving the issue. It overall aims at explaining importance of learning for success of the organization (Argyris, 1991).
Do you consider that the author/s met their purpose?
Yes, the author has met the purpose and explained the importance of learning very nicely and made his argument clear step by step. As it is mentioned that professionals avoid learning but they are aware of the fact that learning is the key to overall success. Furthermore he has explained how professionals can learn reasoning in a productive fashion. Since he has given ways of solving this dilemma, he is successful in meeting the overall purpose (Argyris, 1991). Moreover as Martin (2012) also explained that hiring smart people might create this dilemma and hence any organization should hire professionals with learning ability.
Do you consider that the author‘s arguments are supported by evidence, past research and/ or primary research?
The argument is supported by primary research as the author conducted in-depth studies of management consultants. The sample was educated and hardworking professionals who actually were part of organizations. Various consulting companies and their senior management were also taken as a sample and in-depth information was gathered. The paper even shows the argument between professionals and managers with the aim of depicting the real picture. However he has not supported his argument by any secondary data (Argyris, 1991).
From which theoretical perspective were the authors writing?
The authors were writing from the senior management perspective, and the ways by which overall performance of the organization can be improved. Change management is an important concept and author has given ways of managing change (Argyris, 1991).
Are there any applications, theories or practices in the paper that you question or find limited?
In other words, critically evaluate the paper/chapter.
The paper is supported only by the primary data; however it must also consider past literature in order to explain the actual scenario and must explain what other people researched in the past. At one hand it is a good paper as it explains how learning is important for an organization but on the other hand the argument is not supported by any past literature or research (Argyris, 1991).
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References
Argyris. C., ( May, 1991). Teaching smart people how to learn. Harvard business Review.
Edward. H. (2005). Overloaded circuits: Why smart people underperform. Harvard Business Review.
Goffee. R., & Jones. G., (2013). Creating the Best Workplace on Earth. Harvard Business Review.
Martin. R., (2012). Why I decided to rethink hiring smart people. Harvard Business Review.
