Ladder of Inference
“Explain Ladder of Inference” before beginning this discussion.
Post your summary of the ladder of inference, your experience using it, and suggestions for improvement
when using it the next time.
References:
Senge, P. M., Kleiner, A., Roberts, C., Smith, B., & Ross, R. (1994). The fifth discipline fieldbook:
Strategies and tools for building a learning organization. New York: Doubleday. ISBN: 0385472560.
BUS4802 – CHANGE MANAGEMENT 2
BUS4802 – Change Management
Change is inevitable in our lives and it is something that begins from our mental models.
The way people perceive change affects the way they respond to it. Various concepts help to
understand the cognitive and thinking process people go through. This post provides a summary
of ladder of inference, own experience using it and suggestions for improvements when using it
next time.
Ladder of inference explains the formation of mental models. It helps to enhance
understanding of the thinking process individual experience when processing new information.
People will selectively notice sensory data when exposed to a situation and in the process will
add their own meanings to the situations ending up making assumptions or inferences based on
the meaning (Senge, Kleiner, Roberts, Smith & Ross, 1994). They then draw conclusions from
the assumptions. At this point, people will take action and the results of the action taken
normally influence what they notice in the future. Therefore, ladder of inference explains how
people process information and make conclusions.
I have as well had some experiences using ladder of inferences. In my situation, my
unexamined assumptions led to a tragic outcome. I was walking towards my house in the
evening when I spotted a man-wearing jacket and holding a black pipe in his hand. I was
astonished and I shouted to draw the attention of the passersby. The moment I shouted, a police
BUS4802 – CHANGE MANAGEMENT 3
officer nearby acted promptly, shot the man, and passed away instantly. I thought the man was
carrying a piston and was pursuing me.
Next time, I will have to make some improvements. One of the improvements when
using this model is to avoid assuming things. I must delve into an issue by interrogating on any
data or information that comes into my way. This will help me avoid making misleading
assumptions.
BUS4802 – CHANGE MANAGEMENT 4
Reference
Senge, P. M., Kleiner, A., Roberts, C., Smith, B., & Ross, R. (1994). The fifth discipline
fieldbook: Strategies and tools for building a learning organization. New York:
Doubleday. ISBN: 0385472560.
