Replying to LO27476 --
Malcolm,
I think that in essence AAR is single loop learning: on the level of a
single event you apply AAR and learn from it.
Double loop learning 'within' the AAR paradigm can occur in two ways:
(a) Particpants with free energy can start to ask the 'double loop
questions' of which you gave an example. It then depends how the others
respond to it (like team leader, or bataljon commander) whether the
organization starts learning on the double loop level.
(b) An organization will in general have stated outcomes on different
levels. On the lowest level (for instance a work unit) applying AAR will
be single loop learning with the under (a) stated possibility of double
loop learning. But at the next higher level (for instance the department
containing the work unit)they can apply the AAR at their level, again a
single loop happening, but the results of it can impact the working, etc.
of the work units of that department and, thus, in the work unit level a
double loop learning.
Double loop learning 'outside' the AAR paradigm could be by making the
AAR part of the OODA cycle (observe - orient - decide - act), a cycle
defined within the military by Boyd.
The AAR process stands in that setting a much better change to result in
double loop learning.
Greetings,
Ren'e Post
ZANSHINconsultants
Netherlands
>Reading them sequentially raised the following question: is the AAR
>approach, which is described as dependent on iteration, focusing on one
>event which is analyzed in what seems to me a very linear way (what was
>supposed to happen? what actually happened and why? what are we going to
>do differently or the same next time?) merely a well-developed version of
>single-loop learning? That is, does it ever become self-referential and
>recursive enough to ask double-loop questions like, "what are we doing
>that causes this pattern to continue to happen? what beliefs do we hold
>that cause us to value this intended outcome?" Or is the AAR approach,
>by definition and design, self-limiting to the events/patterns level of
>learning?
--"Ren'e Post" <renepost@wxs.nl>
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