Reform by reflection: Schön’s legacy to management practice in times of uncertainty

In this paper, we revisit Donald Schön’s scholarly work on “handling uncertainty”, suggesting that in order to cope reasonably well with uncertainty, practitioners should be encouraged to take a reflective existential stance, aimed to explore their own tacit personal style (i.e., theories-in-use). They should (i) recall and reflect on their theories-in-use to bear on the phenomenon, (ii) metaphorically explore and establish analogies, and (iii) seek to frame manageable problems while (iv) coping with the anxiety this creates. They should bear in mind that there cannot be an ideal outcome. Some practical implications are also discussed.