Doing Things Right vs. Doing the Right Things
Chris Argyris coined the terms "Double Loop Learning" and "Single Loop Learning. Single loop learning has often been compared to a thermostat in that it makes a "decision" to either turn on or off. Double loop learning is like a thermostat that asks "why" — Is this a good time to switch settings? Are there people in here? Are they in bed? Are they dressed for a colder setting? — thus it orientates itself to the present environment in order to make the wisest decision.
Single Loop learning as the most common style of learning is just problem solving – improving the system as it exists. This type of learning solves problems but ignores the question of why the problem arose in the first place.
Double-Loop learning involves questioning the underlying assumptions behind techniques, goals and values. Double loop learning uses feedback from past actions to question assumptions underlying current views.
A person who is double loop learning is asking a series of "whys" (similar to Sakichi Toyoda’s technique he called the Five Whys: When confronted with a problem you ask "why" five times. By the time the fifth why is answered, you should be at the root cause of the problem).
This is a skill that is essential for higher-order problem-solving and leadership. It is the ability to question and change the rules of a game. It is an application of Einstein’s dictum:
The significant problems we face can not be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them. You have to rise above it to the next level