Practical wisdom is essential to occupational and professional practice. However, the emphasis on technical rationality in these domains neglects the necessity of practical wisdom in doing specialized, skilled work. Microdynamic methods for analyzing social action enabled the discovery and examination of practical wisdom in two interactional episodes from community health work. Practical wisdom was found in specific acts: in adaptation to and interpretation of logical forces and interactional rules of these acts; and in deliberation among choices to reach intended outcomes. Cultivating skills in microdynamic methods for finding and analyzing practical wisdom is an essential tool for practitioners and organizations.
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