Deutero-Learning in Organizations: A Review and a Reformulation
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Higher-order learning in and by organizations is often conceptualized in the literature as deutero-learning. However, current definitions and descriptions of this concept suffer from conceptual confusion and terminological ambiguity, impeding a proper theoretical understanding and hindering empirical research. Following Bateson and Argyris and Schön, I reformulate the concept of deutero-learning as the behavioral adaptation to patterns of conditioning in relationships in organizational contexts, distinguishing it from meta-learning and planned learning.
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Overall change can only be achieved by higher-level learning, which results in the development of new norms, values, and practices.
“Overall change can only be achieved by higher-level learning (e.g., Fiol and Lyles 1985)-also called second-order learning (e.g., Sørensen 2002) or deutero learning (e.g., Visser 2007)-which results in the development of new norms, values, and practices.”
From Organizational resilience: a capability-based conceptualization (2020) · cites this paper as Visser 2007
Cites
Exploration and Exploitation in Organizational Learning
March, J. G. (1991) · Organization Science · doi:10.1287/orsc.2.1.71 · Cited by 21,942 · cited 2× · see citing works
“For them, even simple forms of problem solving and learning are subject to errors in interpretation of rule histories (Levitt & March, 1988; March, Schultz, & Zhou, 2000), to various forms of learning myopia (Levinthal & March, 1993), to incomplete learning cycles (March & Olsen, 1975), and to tendencies toward short-…”
BackgroundOrganizational Learning: A Theory of Action Perspective
Argyris, C., & Schön, D. A. (1997) · Reis · doi:10.2307/40183951 · Cited by 11,113 · cited 4× · see citing works
“A number of authors, however, wish to distinguish a deeper or higher level of learn ing in and by organizations, which they, following Argyris & Schön (1978, 1996), term deutero-learning.”
BackgroundInfluentialReconceptualizing Organizational Routines as a Source of Flexibility and Change
Feldman, M. S., & Pentland, B. T. (2003) · Administrative Science Quarterly · doi:10.2307/3556620 · Cited by 4,020 · see citing works
Rosenthal, R., & Jacobson, L. (1968) · The Urban Review · doi:10.1007/bf02322211 · Cited by 3,878 · see citing works
Understanding HRM–Firm Performance Linkages: The Role of the “Strength” of the HRM System
Bowen, D. E., & Ostroff, C. (2004) · Academy of Management Review · doi:10.5465/amr.2004.12736076 · Cited by 2,996 · see citing works
IMPACT OF TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP ON FOLLOWER DEVELOPMENT AND PERFORMANCE: A FIELD EXPERIMENT.
Dvir, T., Eden, D., Avolio, B. J., & Shamir, B. (2002) · Academy of Management Journal · doi:10.2307/3069307 · Cited by 1,906 · see citing works
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Organizational resilience: a capability-based conceptualization
Duchek, S. (2020) · Business Research · doi:10.1007/s40685-019-0085-7 · Cited by 2,027 · see citing works
“Organizational change Overall change can only be achieved by higher-level learning (e.g., Fiol and Lyles 1985)—also called second-order learning (e.g., Sørensen 2002) or deutero learning (e.g., Visser 2007)—which results in the development of new norms, values, and practices.”
BackgroundManaging technology-enabled innovation in a professional services firm: a cooperative case study
Dodgson, M., Ash, S., Andrews, J., & Phillips, N. (2022) · Academy of Management Discoveries · doi:10.5465/amd.2020.0217 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
- Authors
- Visser, M.
- Affiliations
- Radboud University Nijmegen (NL)
- Corresponding author
- Visser, Max
- ORCID
- Visser, Max
- Venue
- Academy of Management Review
- Publisher
- Academy of Management
- Published
- 2007-04
- Volume
- 32
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 659-667
- ISSN
- 0363-7425 (ISSN-L)
- 1930-3807
- OpenAlex
- W2149548894
- Cited by
- 168
- References
- 6
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 15
- FWCI
- 18.82
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Academy of Management Review (publishedVersion)
- Radboud Repository (Radboud University) (submittedVersion)
- Radboud Repository (Radboud University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management › Organizational Learning and Leadership
- Social Sciences › Human Factors and Ergonomics › Innovative Education and Learning Practices
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management › Management and Organizational Studies
- Keywords
- higher-order learning, organizational learning, meta-learning, behavioral adaptation, conditioning, organizational relationships, conceptual reformulation, terminological ambiguity
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