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Once employees base their motivation on extrinsic factors they are much less likely to take chances, question established policies and practices, or explore the territory that lies beyond the company vision as defined by management.

— Chris Argyris On organizational learning (1999)

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More quotes by Chris Argyris

Success in the marketplace increasingly depends on learning, yet most people don't know how to learn.

Managers who are skilled communicators may also be good at covering up real problems.

Organizations do not literally remember.

and Schon (1978)

Human beings hold two types of theories of action. There is the one that they espouse, which is usually expressed in the form of stated beliefs and values. Then there is the theory that they actually use; this can only be inferred from observing their actions, that is, their actual behavior.

On organizational learning (1999)

But today's dilemmas are even harder to deal with: autonomy vs. control; innovation vs. no surprises; participation and ownership vs. meeting deadlines; and job security vs. excess employees through job design

On organizational learning (1999)

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Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Chris Argyris (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.