You can watch the video of my talkfrom the Lean Software Systems Consortium (LSSC12) conference in Boston earlier this month.

Using the Ladder of Inference to produce Double Loop Learning conversations

Visualising work is a key part of the Kanban Method. In many situations it can lead to people realising there are problems or opportunities for improvement, which can be successfully accomplished by simply changing behaviour (single loop learning). However, in some situations, particularly where there could embarrassment or threat, these change may need challenging existing mindsets (called double loop learning). Using practical examples drawn from directly helping teams, this talk will present a model for understanding how we can proactively engage in conversations that increase the chances of capitalising on the value that visualising the work provides.

Here’s a review from Jack Vinson

Benjamin Mitchell used the topic of “what comes after visualization” to start a conversation of what to do once you’ve got some visualization.  He particularly talked about Chris Argyris‘  Ladder of Inference (and expanded by Peter Senge), which he used as a way of thinking about how we see things and how we interact with our colleagues and coaching / consulting clients.  He particularly warned about staying away from making assumptions and working at the levels of Select and Describe (rather than Explain, Evaluate, Propose Actions).  Since Argyris is one of the promoters of double-loop learning, it is not surprising that Benjamin discussed the Mindset -> Actions -> Results learning loop.  I liked the discussion of taking different actions to get results vs changing one’s mindset because the Actions aren’t getting anywhere like where they need to go.

Here were some reactions from Twitter:

I loved @benjaminm 's talk today. He always challenges my coaching worldview in interesting ways. still thinking about it. #lssc12—
Claudio Perrone (@agilesensei) May 15, 2012

If you wan't to know how to effectivly help observers change go listen to @benjaminm about double loop learning #lssc12—
Torbjörn Gyllebring (@drunkcod) May 15, 2012

@benjaminm "make resistance (to change) discussable" yeah #lssc12 brilliant talk about visualization and its limits btw—
Gaetano Mazzanti (@mgaewsj) May 15, 2012

skilled incompetence. Great term from his also great talk "What comes after visualising the work? …" @benjaminm—
Leonardo Campos (@leonardocampos) May 15, 2012

like the idea of growing the histogram as cards finish off the board, looking forward to trying it out @benjaminm #lssc12—
Paul Moore (@pdmoore) May 15, 2012

Let me know your reaction in the comments.