In Training = Learning? LO14133 Marty wrote:
> relevant if we are looking at the source of individual behavior.
>
> When I talk about beliefs I mean the statements about reality that any
> individual holds as "the truth." Not an abstract pricniple that you might
> accept in theory, such as "all men are created equal," but a belief that
> determines your behavior, such as people can't be trusted, relationships
> are stiffling, life isn't fair, or people of different skin color (or
> religions or sex) are not as good as me. Beliefs such as these totally
> determine our behavior, perceptions, thoughts, and much of our feelings.
I'm sorry, but I fail to see the distinction. "All men are created equal"
is just as abstract as "People can't be trusted" and "Relationships are
stifling." As abstractions, these create a base of influence concerning
individual behavior. It is, however, the operationalization of these
abstractions that actually creates the behavior being observed. These
operationalizations are what are referred to as rules by Barker and
assumptions by JULE. Operational definitions of conceptual influences is
also a standard part of any formal research that is recognized as
credible.
But, then again, this may simply be a belief of my own ;).
I haven't seen the DecisionMaker Process, but it sounds awfully similar to
the other processes/tools I mentioned. Having used these and other tools
to bring about lasting change, I have found that more often than not,
change is temporary and superficial following the tool session. Lasting
change only comes about when those who run the organization (not
necessarily the management) make a commitment to things being different.
The tools may present an alternative. It is the long term application of
this commitment to a difference, as a result of the tool session or some
other agenda/event, that makes a particular alternative become reality.
--Clyde Howell orgpsych@augusta.net
Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>