AUTHOR
Nordlund, Sandra; Olsson, Sarah

DATE
2000-02-23

DEPARTMENT
Business Administration and Social Sciences / Informatics and Systems Sciences

SUMMARY
The pressure on companies to be a learning organisation is large today, and will probably increase in the future, since the environment for organisations is changing at an increasing rate. There are many theories that when applied are believed to achieve continuous learning, these theories are mainly in the field of organisational learning. In this field one can find Chris Argyris, the creator of the concept double-loop learning or learning how to learn. The theory, which is very complex, was developed in order to solve difficult problems by questioning and alter the assumptions that guide behaviour. This questioning of assumptions should lead to continuous learning. While reading Argyris’ theory we identified some similarities with Soft Systems Methodology, developed by Peter Checkland, of which we had prior knowledge. We though that the skills or behaviour, required for double-loop learning in Argyris’ theory, might be created by the usage of Soft Systems Methodology.

Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) is a process of inquiry. It was developed in order to handle the changes and problems that arise over time. It is a structured way to improve complex and ill-structured problem situations. The main idea of the methodology is to provide a never-ending process of learning.

After identifying the requirements for double-loop learning, SSM were applied in a problem situation at a company. This was done in order to explore if the requirements for double-loop learning were present during the work with SSM. The purpose of this thesis was to explore if SSM could generate double-loop learning. The results of the empirical study showed that even if some of the behaviour required for double-loop learning was present, the outcome were still of single-loop kind.

ISSN 1404-5508 / ISRN LTU-SHU-EX--00/037--SE / NR 2000:037