Kim Woods Only (613 1.1 Discussion)

Post #1

A mental model is a learned set of rules or norms about how the world around us operates and sets or patterns that need to be followed in order to be successful (Wirth, 2013). “The world simply can’t be made sense of; facts can’t be organized, unless you have a mental model to begin with. That theory does not have to be the right one, because you can alter it along the way as information comes in. But you can’t begin to learn without some concept that gives you expectations or hypotheses” (Hampton-Turner , 1992, p. 167). Mental models are specific to each person as to how they see a specific situation. For example, my mental model for getting to work in the morning has a specific set of directions that I don’t necessarily think of but just automatically do every day. My neighbor across the street works in the same building as I do, but he doesn’t take the same directions as I do. Although his mental model is different than mine, it doesn’t make it wrong. In order to change a mental model, one must first be aware they you have a specific method to how you do things. Then make a conscious effort to increase awareness of the mental models that surround you (Wirth, 2013). Another example would be in my job as a Naval Aircrewman, I have developed a mental model for pre-flight from the various schools and training I have received over the years. When I see another crewman doing something different it is important to ask questions in order to understand their mental model and potentially adjusting your own mental model for success. By asking engaging in specific conversation such as “Here is where I am coming from and this is my prospective”, “What I have noticed is”, “What a successful preflight to me uses the following steps”, “What does it look like to you, please help me understand how you see it” and “are you seeing anything different” (Wirth, 2013). By engaging in conversation in hopes to better understand another person’s mental model you may discover a new effective or efficient way to do things, but at the bare minimum you have a conscious understanding that not everyone works in the same manner to get a job done.

References

Hampton-Turner , C. (1992). Creating corporate culture: From discord to harmony. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.

Wirth, S. (2013, Februrary 17). Mental model and making sense of things: Using active engagement. Retrieved from YouTube.com: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzkkmFAsQSA

Post #2

Mental models are beliefs, ideas, images, and verbal descriptions that we consciously or unconsciously form from our experiences and which (when formed) guide our thoughts and actions within narrow channels (BusinessDictionary.com). These representations of perceived reality explain cause and effect to us, and lead us to expect certain results, give meaning to events, and predispose us to behave in certain ways. Although mental models provide internal stability in a world of continuous change, they also blind us to facts and ideas that challenge or defy our deeply held beliefs. Everyone has different models that is different in detail from everyone else's of the same concept or subject, no matter how common or simple.

Mental models can be a cause of selective perceptive, it filters information and only captures the perception of a part of the information. Jacobson (2000) states that “Mental models, in popular science parlance, have been described as "deeply held images of thinking and acting". They are basic to understanding the world that people are unconscious of them. The first thing one has to do in orders to change his/her mental model is being aware of how they do things in a peculiar way as compared to others. Once the awareness has been created, then one has to make an effort to understand how other people do the same things differently around them. As part of my current job, I have to spend one week out of every month with my team out of state, my routine is to leave to location a day earlier than the report day to settle in and familiarize myself to the area while my colleagues do otherwise. They will travel on the report day after spending the first half of the day at the office. By making an effort to understand why we have different routines to accomplishing the same task, my awareness is widen and gives me another avenue of approach.

References:

mental models. BusinessDictionary.com Retrieved March 04, 2018, from BusinessDictionary.com website: http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/mental-models.html

Jacobson R. (2000). Leading for a Change, New York

Post #3

According to Bolman and Deal (2013), a mental model is “a set of ideas and assumptions - that you carry in your head to help you understand and negotiate a particular territory”. The purpose of a mental model is to help one understand life. “A mental model is an explanation of how something works. The phrase “mental model” is an overarching term for any sort of concept, framework, or worldview that you carry around in your mind” (Clear, n.d.). Each individual has their own mental model because each individual tends to view the world in their own different way. “This unique mental model influences the ways in which we interpret events, understand problems, and develop solutions” (Bergmann, n.d.). Mental models are used in everyone’s everyday lives to make decisions, solve problems, and understand life, therefore they tend to guide our behavior and perception (Clear, n.d.). Our understanding of the world and organizational events depends on our perceptions, beliefs, knowledge, and ideas, which help form our mental models. For example everyday we all wake up and some of the first and most important things we do are: brush our teeth, wash our face, and shower. This is an example of a mental model that most of us have adopted and perform subconsciously. Since we are all different and view the world differently, some of us might not consider showering in the morning important/necessary and would rather shower later on or when it is convenient. This shows how each individual develops their mental models based on their beliefs/perceptions and portrays how mental models can be different for each individual. It is possible for mental models to change as one learns and gains more knowledge about a certain topic and/or situation. A change in one’s mental model leads to a significant change in one’s behavior. In order for one to change their mental model, they have to be aware of what their current mental model consists of. Since mental models shape the way we view the world, it is hard to notice them. One of the main ways we notice our mental models is when we encounter a person who functions on their own mental model and are exposed to a different set of rules which we are unfamiliar with. Here is an example how changing one’s mental model can change one’s understanding of events: a person may have developed a mental model on what is considered to be acceptable/unacceptable behavior in a workplace based on their experience at a previous job. Going into a new job position with a different environment, that person’s mental model can undergo change. At their previous position, it may have been unacceptable to utilize their cell phone while on the clock. However at their new job, the individual notices that other employees use their cell phone from time to time while on the clock without any consequences. Seeing this can change that person’s mental model and their understanding of what is acceptable behavior within a workplace. This can lead to the individual also using their phone while on the clock since their mental model has changed.

References

Bergmann, M. (n.d.). Change Your Mental Models. Retrieved March 05, 2018, from http://www.regiscompany.com/change-your-mental-models/

Bolman, L.G., & Deal, T.E. (2013). Reframing organizations: Artistry, choice, & leadership (5th ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Clear, J. (n.d.). Mental Models: Learn How to Think Better and Gain a Mental Edge. Retrieved March 05, 2018, from https://jamesclear.com/mental-models