I've recently joined the list and want to say I am impressed with the
quality of discussion I have seen so far.
I read "Fifth Dicipline" a year or two ago and I was generally in
agreement with it. However, in regards to a current thread, I think the
entire notion of "mental models" may be off the mark. I am currently part
of an informal research group pursuing the integration of several lines of
thinking including the Semiotic (theory of the sign process) of C.S.
Peirce, autopoiesis (self- producing systems), and process philosophy in
general (e.g., Whitehead). Our work argues against the notion that
creation of internal representations of the world (often taken as
synonomous with "mental model") is a component of intelligent action and
learning. It seems to me that some (many?) of the techniques associated
with eliciting mental models firmly rest on a "representational" theory of
action/learning that is often not very "process" oriented, and therefore
not consistent with the rest of the Senge L.O. perspective.
I would be glad to hear other's opinions on this matter, as the
representation/ anti-rep' argument has been playing out in other fields as
well (notably in the Artificial Intelligence/Life community).
Fred Reed
freed@cc.atinc.com