Monday, January 31, 2011
Single loop and Double loop learning
Can a person with single-loop learning alone rise into the position of leadership? Not necessarily. There are possibilities that through single-loop learning a person could take an organisation into new heights. However, on a macro level story, such a company could be serving to the double-loop learning of some other players.
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During the initial stages the question "why" may not crop up which is associated with single loop learning but to sustain in the long run many situations would arise against the run of play where the question " why " would come up as with time, problems which are not visible initially comes to the fore front. In this situation the double loop learning of a few would come into play.
Most often survival and success of an organization in the long run depends on double-loop learning of people in the organization. But not every person contributes through double loop learning. It is important that the select few, especially the individuals who assume leadership roles to exhibit double-loop learning.It is possible that the people who contribute be invisible in the organization, but the success rests heavily on these shoulders and it becomes important for the leadership to recognize their contribution.
Single loop learning is to correction of action to solve a mistake,while double loop involves correcting causes behind that action.causes could be organization policies,motives. So, single loop learning may take an organisation to new heights, but the success of the organisation depends on double loop learners that have the three basic skills- self awareness, honesty and taking responsibility on certain actions
Persons with single loop learning can be effective when tasks are more routine in nature and they can take the organizations into heights. But when there is any major fluctuation it will be difficult for them to identify the problem in a different way because their mind has already tuned according to the status quo. In these types of situations double loop learning will produce better results since they are open to new ways of solving problems. Leadership will be successful if the leaders know the best use of both types of learning depending upon the situation.
The Single loop learning is instrumental for working in single mode and need to abide by rules and strategy which are rigid.Thus people of this sort are needed in organization but at subordinate level. on the other hand Double loop thinking out of box and analyze the problem and challenge the rule itself.They are source of creativity in the organization which lead to its success .
Single loop learning is more about solutions to a problem and avoiding mistakes, while double loop learning is concerned with correcting the underlying causes behind the problematic action. A single loop learner can definitely become a leader but he cannot take the organization to a new height because he doesn’t think beyond the threshold limits. In this case, the company which has achieved new heights will definitely be having double loop learners who think beyond status quo with productive reasoning but still get unnoticed due to an affirmative leader.
Single-loop learning can levitate individuals when they alter their action to resolve the difference between anticipated outcome and desired goal, individuals are expected to be articulate about their purposes, goals and simultaneously control others and the environment to ensure achievement of goal. But at a stage they start questioning the values, assumptions and policies that led to the proceedings of resolving the difference between anticipated and achieved outcome. If this leads to further amendment, it is the double loop learning that has led to this modification. Double-loop learning is governed by valid information, informed choice and internal commitment.
Single loop learning person can be the leader of that organisation or collective action where the motive is to sustain by solving the problem. This person can take the organisation to heights but the double loop learning person work on the reason behind the problem. This make the organisation complete in its self as there is work on reason as well as solution. so single loop learner will be serving the double loop learner as a whole.
The very nature of single-loop learning is limited in the sense that while it addresses the issues as & when they are experienced it fails to work on the root causes. Thus the growth sprouting out it is bound to get saturated. While for a double loop learner following such a company’s growth is an excellent opportunity as it not only facilitates finding out of the solutions but also directs attention towards the root causes which are pushing the problems beyond a threshold. Thus analysing the solutions will drive towards their initial causes for him.
While single loop learning may allow a person to take an organisation to new heights, the organisation is likely to meet with a glass ceiling, as the absence of fresh perspective will not allow the organisation to grow exponentially. To the keen competitors who adopt double loop learning, this will therefore become an avenue to analyse the situation in entirety and learn from it.
A company acting on single loop learning alone will become quite predictable to the other players in the field positioned to gain from understanding this company’s actions. These other players in the case that they are double loop learners would easily look through the actions resulting from single loop learning of this company and would thus strategise accordingly. The basis of an action of a company with single loop learning is direct and thus, looks obvious while that of a double loop learner is deeper. Understanding deeper bases of actions of another player throws relatively greater challenges.
To rise into the position of leadership, one needs to insulate the organisation from the wrath of uncertainty of the situation. Whereas single loop learning works under given governing variables and with this one can take an organization to a new height under a stable environment only. It may not help the organization in becoming successful because it needs to keep the pace with the changes in the environment. So double loop learning really helps in this direction, because double loop learning facilitate the change the governing variables as per demand of the situation.
People with single loop learning can be effective in stable organisations less dependent on external environment. They can definitely rise to the top with their sheer hard work and conformance to rules and regulations. But is that the only necessary prerequisite for leadership ability? No. A person might take the organisation to new heights through following rules but unless you have people around you who are change seekers and open to new and innovative ways of working, sustaining those heights might be a difficult task.
Organisation in its nascent stage can rise to a certain limit with the help of single loop of thinking however soon the plateau arrives as it fails to look beyond the obvious and the mind gets accustomed to routine tasks. The obsession with solving problems and avoiding mistakes blinds them towards the root cause of the problem. These organisations mostly work in stable environment .While organisations with double loop learning will move beyond this plateau by the virtue of innovation and the willingness to look for the root of problems rather than looking at it superficially.
Single loop learning focuses on the actions of an individual, adapting him to the difference between expected and obtained results. This approach can take a person to new heights but considering an organization double loop learning is important. Individuals need to reflect on the course of action taken to facilitate the growth of the organization as simply actions cannot help, the cause and effect analysis of those actions is also very important. The stage of organization is also a factor in considering single or double loop learning. Nascent stage can comply with single but later stages require double loop learning.
Single-loop learning can be effective when an organisation is facing a particular problem which can be rectified by an expert in this paarticular field. But as the organisation grows and faces new problems, which it has never faced a need for creativity and vision is felt. This need can be satisfied by people possessing double loop learning.
Double Loop Learning enables individuals to think beyond the expected "Out of the box" ,which will demand for high degree of competition among the organisations. Single loop learning is subjected to prediction and formalization. Single loop learning can give a position of leadership but for its positions sustenance double loop learning is highly essential.
Single loop learning can take an organization to a certain point but for the organization to grow beyond that point double loop learning is necessary. The double loop learning organizations can learn a lot from a single loop learning organization and when the time comes they can easily outdo the single loop learning organization.
Single loop learning specifies a particular objective and attainment or non-attainment of the same becomes the determining factor for success . In this process all the energies are focussed towards the objective that other things like means employed, social and environmental costs etc. Tend to take a back seat. This in the case of an organisation for instance may lead to its decline and may become a point of discussion and learning for other organisations.
In single-loop learning, individuals, groups, or organizations modify their actions according to the difference between expected and obtained outcomes. In double-loop learning, the individuals, groups or organization question the values, assumptions and policies that led to the actions in the first place. Double loop learning is the learning about single-loop learning which gives it an upper edge at the macro level.
Yes a person can rise to the top even through single loop learning, but without double loop learning sustainability would be tough to account for. Though single loop learning can be disastrous at times as the focus is on solution of the problem and not looking at the things in broad manner.
Double loop learners are critical thinkers whereas single loop learners exercise their preset standards to attain suceess. While the single loop learners may keep working hard to turn their failures into success, without seeing its worthlessness; the double loop learners would change their strategy to align with the situation. Since their approach places them in a better situation in the wake of changing contexts, they would be the leaders in determining the path of change for the single loop learners.
People may become leaders via single loop but sooner they will realize plateau phase. They modify their actions according to the expected and obtained outcomes. They may manage well but wony prove great leaders. Great leaders follow double loop wher they question the values, assumptions and have courage to sail against tide. They grow as the organisation grows and help to forecast future events and risks and mould accordingly to fit in.
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