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Practice Cannot be Reduced to Theory: Knowledge, Representations, and Change in the Workplace

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Organizational Learning and Technological Change

Part of the book series: NATO ASI Series ((NATO ASI F,volume 141))

Abstract

Changing views of the nature of human knowledge change how we design organizations, facilities, and technology to promote learning: Learning is not transfer; using a plan is not executing a program; explanation is not reciting rules from memory. Such rationalist views of knowledge inhibit change and stifle innovate uses of technology. Representations of work (plans, policies, procedures) and their meaning develop in work itself. Representations guide, but do not strictly control human behavior. Every perception and action involves new, nonlinguistic conceptualizations that reground organizational goals and values. This essay explores how the epistemology of situated cognition guides business redesign.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Research on Learning, 2550 Hanover Street, Palo Alto, CA, 94304, USA

    William J. Clancey

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  1. William J. Clancey
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, University La Sapienza, Via dei Marsi 78, I-00185, Rome, Italy

    Cristina Zucchermaglio

  2. Department of Communication, University of Siena, Via del Giglio 14, I-53100, Siena, Italy

    Sebastiano Bagnara

  3. Institute for Research on Learning, 2550 Hanover Street, 94304, Palo Alto, CA, USA

    Susan U. Stucky

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© 1995 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Clancey, W.J. (1995). Practice Cannot be Reduced to Theory: Knowledge, Representations, and Change in the Workplace. In: Zucchermaglio, C., Bagnara, S., Stucky, S.U. (eds) Organizational Learning and Technological Change. NATO ASI Series, vol 141. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-79550-3_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-79550-3_2

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-79552-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-79550-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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