Teaching Smart People How to Learn (Harvard Business Review Classics) [Paperback]

Chris Argyris (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1422126005 | ISBN-13: 978-1422126004 | Publication Date: May 19, 2008

Why are your smartest and most successful employees often the worst learners? Likely, they haven't had the opportunities for introspection that failure affords. So when they do fail, instead of critically examining their own behavior, they cast blame outward -- on anyone or anything they can.

In Teaching Smart People How to Learn, Chris Argyris sheds light on the forces that prevent highly skilled employees for learning from mistakes and offers suggestions for helping talented employees develop more productive responses.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Chris Argyris is a director of Monitor and Professor Emeritus at Harvard Business School. He is known for his seminal work in the area of organizational learning and is the author of numerous articles and books on the subject, including Knowledge for Action and Overcoming Organizational Defenses.

Product Details

• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: Harvard Business School Press (May 19, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1422126005
• ISBN-13: 978-1422126004
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 4.4 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #147,048 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #5 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Business & Investing > Industries & Professions > Human Resources & Personnel Management
  • #17 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Business & Investing > Management & Leadership > Management

More About the Author

Chris Argyris is the James Conant Professor of Education and Organizational Behavior Emeritus at Harvard University. He has consulted to numerous private and governmental organizations. He has received many awards including thirteen honorary degrees and Lifetime's Contributions Awards from the Academy of Management, American Psychological Association, and American Society of Training Directors. His most recent books are, Flawed Advice and the Management Trap (OUP, 1999), and Reasons and Rationalizations (OUP, 2004). A chair professorship was established in 1994 at Yale University. He is a Director Emeritus of Monitor Group.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

61 of 63 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Smart people can't learn, December 14, 2002

By 

Martin Schray (West Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Teaching Smart People How to Learn (HBR OnPoint Enhanced Edition) (Digital)

The title is very interesting and so is the article. The article walks through the reason why smart people can't (won't) learn and describes an approach for breaking through this mode of thinking.

The basic premise is that people with high levels of education have learned to play the learning game. They can't or won't admit they don't know something because in essence they would have to admit failure. They often become defensive in the face of failure and displace (rationalize) the blame for failure rather then looking for the root cause and examining their own involvement in the failure.