Knowledge for Action

CHRIS ARGYRIS is James Bryant Conant professor of organizational behavior in the graduate schools of business and education at Harvard University. His previous Jossey-Bass books include Action Science (with Robert Putnam and Diana McLain Smith, 1985), and Theory in Practice (with Donald A. Schojn, 1974).

"Knowledge for Action is must reading for academics and executives alike. Chris Argyris once again demonstrates that he is the leading scholar in helping us understand why individuals and organizations are unable to learn from their actions and what steps must be taken to develop this essential capability. No executive who desires his organization to improve and learn continuously, or academic who wants to develop usable as opposed to merely useful theory, can do so without understanding the message of this book." (Michael Beer, professor of business administration, Harvard Business School)

• UNCOVERING ROADBLOCKS TO IMPROVEMENT. Ineffective Learning in Organizations. Defensive Routines That Limit Learning. DIAGNOSING AND INTERVENING IN THE ORGANIZATION. Step One: Interview and Observe the Players. Step Two: Organize the Findings for Learning and Action. Step Three: Conduct Meaningful Feedback Sessions. Step Four: Facilitate the Change Seminar with Live Cases. USING KEY LEARNINGS TO SOLVE PROBLEM SITUATIONS. Explosive Relationships: Stopping Button Pushing. Mistrust: Overcoming Resentment and Rebuilding Trust. New Team Leadership: Managing the Clash of Expectations andNeeds. CEO's Performance Review: Getting Feedback from Below. Managing Exchanges That Could Go Ballistic: Discussing andCorrecting Out-of-Control Routines. Conclusion: A Model for Change and Improvement. Appendix: Design Causality: Explaining, Acting On, and IntegratingDiverse Perspectives.