Part one.
What did you like about the topic?
Argyris strikes straight to those leaders in an organization who use defensive mechanisms by taking advantage of their positions, to cover problems that could otherwise be brought forward and discussed. The topic gives clearly elaborates the procedures individuals should follow in addressing issues that seem embarrassing, but assist a lot in improving a society or an organization.
What struck you as interesting?
The most fascinating thing learned from the book is that organizations keep on defending themselves against changes that could assist in improving their productivity. However, the defences are always successful since the people involved are intelligent and have enough experience. The writer argues that societies are made of skilled incompetent people, who are extremely skilful in performing unnecessary tasks that their outcomes are termed safe even if they are a threat to the society (Argyris, 1990).
Why did the (topic) stimulate positive emotion?
The topic gives positive stimulation through enabling people to learn as a group and share what is at hand. Speaking the truth is always a sound idea in the absence of embarrassment and threats. In addition, the topic makes an individual focus beyond problems’ symptoms but go deep to the dynamics under which they occur and solve them professionally. Moreover, the topic encourages the reader to make concrete solutions to given problems in an organization. This occurs through improving communication aimed at reducing the number of assumptions made by people while deciding the perfect directions and actions (Argyris, 1990).
Part two.
What did you not like about the (topic)?
Although the Argyris gives solution to management defences, he fails to support his arguments with examples. Giving examples gives a reader a clear understanding of situations and avoid future repetition of such instances. Secondly, the writer compresses the information on an extremely small volume that some facts are not fully elaborated due to space limit.
Why did the (topic) stimulate negative emotion?
The topic stimulates the reader negatively through encouraging managers to make use of their position in impending changes within an organization. . On the other hand, the writer encourages mean leaders within an organization to use their skills and experiences to cover up certain issues affecting an organization. The book does not give the necessary actions to take towards such individuals.
Part three.
What did you learn?
Summarize your major take-away and intellectual sound bites
The most notable sound bite retrieved from the reading is that organizations are able to defend themselves through the creation of by-pass mechanisms, also referred to as underground practises. The above phrase indicates that managers hold a lot of materials in their prominent offices leading to stagnation of the organizational growth. In addition, the writer encourages people on practising double loop learning. On elaborating this, when individual has a doubt on something it is necessary to enquire and insist on getting the intended answer (Argyris, 1990).
Bottom line
A one sentence "wham-bang thank-you-ma'am" synopsis of what you will take away from the lesson regarding what you learned
Never hesitate to speak out a problem in fear of hurting another individual(s) or embarrassing oneself since the openness allows others to think of best actions to take for the benefit of a society or an organization.
Argyris, A. (1990). Overcoming Organizational Defenses: Facilitating Organizational Learning.
Allyn and Bacon. pp. 1-169
