Premium Essay

Critical Thinking in Customer Service

In:

Submitted By supersoprano
Words 2358
Pages 10
Critical Thinking in Customer Service:
Making Rational Decisions for Conflict Resolution
Introduction
At one time in their lives or another, most people in the United States of working age have held employment positions where customer interaction was a necessity. While it can be argued that some personality types are better suited to human interaction than others, customer service positions maintain some of the highest turnover rates of any industry. Customer service positions expose employees to a wide range of people with unique personalities and motivations, often mixing in feelings of disappoint and/or anger regarding their particular situation (Ivancevich, 2010, p 392). Employees in customer service positions often perceive themselves as being “ineffective, unwanted or unneeded, without the tools needed to truly service customers.” As many customer service representatives are faced with the daily task of providing conflict resolution to often angry customers, it is very important that they feel empowered and trusted to make decisions that not only impact a company’s bottom line, but that also satisfies the customer’s original request or complaint (Ivancevich, 2010, p 393).

Discussion of the Literature
While many individuals utilize some type of customer service on nearly a daily basis, the majority of people do not understand the job competencies and necessary qualifications that are needed to be able to effectively handle inquiries and diffuse tense situations on a daily basis. In "An Empirical Study of Job Design in the Australian Call Centre Industry’ Bowden argues that the majority of customer service employees in call centers lack the necessary autonomy and authority needed in order to solve an issue directly without involving upper management. By providing employees with more direct individual authority, he argues that customers will receive

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Critical Thinking Application Paper

...Critical Thinking Application Paper 1 Critical Thinking Application 2 I am going to discuss what critical thinking means. Critical thinking is the disciplined intellectually process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action (Paul & Scriven, 1987). An important aspect of life is thinking. Thinking is something everyone does naturally as living and breathing, but largely one's thinking is imprecise, partially uninformed, biased, or narrow-minded. Some of the personal barriers to critical thinking includes; self-concept, ego defense, rationalization, self-serving biases, and emotional influences (Goodpaster & Kirby, 2007). Critical thinking is a vital instrument to high-quality decision-making. Everyone has some level of prejudices biases or, which can get in the way high-quality decision-making. Critical thinking should not depend on any underlying motivation. I was a customer service representative for Energizer Battery. I was with Energizer for five years. I first started in the customer service department as a Customer Service Account Representative. I then went to work in the planning and scheduling department as a Senior Logistics Associate. In both roles that I have worked in, critical thinking has always played a major asset. Critical thinking is an...

Words: 800 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Critical Thinking Application Paper

...Critical Thinking Application Paper Linda Page MGT/350 August 6, 2011 Hawthorne Welcher Critical Thinking Application Paper According to Paul and Elder (2006) Critical thinking is the art of thinking about thinking while thinking in order to make thinking better. It involves three interwoven phases: it analyzes thinking, it evaluates thinking, and it improves thinking. When the author thinks of decision-making and critical thinking, she knows that they go hand in hand. The author is employed by the Fort Gordon Commissary, which is a military grocery store. Within her department there are three store associates/ tellers and one lead teller, they all handle customer services. Being the lead teller the author has a major reasonability to up hold, especially with customer services. Our customers expect us to be able to fix whatever is wrong with their order, from over rings to lost items. There are days where the author has to make decision as to whether if the customer is due a refund or a simple exchange of an item or if the situation that the customer is complaining about is a bagger problem. This is where the author believes their biggest problem is the baggers and the way they bag. A lot of the time the tellers has to evaluate if the situation, to see if the bagger did damage the customer groceries or if the customer is trying to get over. The way that the tellers have been able to analyze the problem, is to tell the customer if there is any damage to their grocer the...

Words: 719 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Emotional Thinking Style

...Critical Thinking Application Critical Thinking by some is thought to be as important as or more important than most material or physical items such as money, homes, or automobiles. So what is more important than critical thinking? Well, a couple of extreme examples to illuminate the point are food and water. They are without a doubt two of the most important items that our body requires for survival, and so it is with the application of critical thinking. In this paper I will discuss my understanding of critical thinking and relate it to a personal experience at work, showing its validity in the work environment. I will also explain its importance and benefits. Critical Thinking According to the National Counsel for Excellence in Critical Thinking Instruction, critical thinking is defined as “the mode of thinking about any subject, content, or problem in which the thinker improves his or her quality of thinking by skillfully taking charge of the structures inherent in thinking and imposing intellectual standards upon them.”( Scriven, M., & Paul, R.,1987). Critical thinking involves how one goes about gathering, evaluating, and choosing information and the best methods in solving situations or problems. Critical thinkers are rational and focus strictly to the facts in order to analyze the issues at hand. They are open-minded to all possible options, think outside the box for new ideas, and recognize any bias in his or her thinking and decision making. Thinking is a part...

Words: 1104 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Critical Thinking Application

...Critically thinking employees are an asset to any organization in today’s business environment. The ability to think through a problem to determine the best solution is necessary to avoid repeat problems that can cost an organization time and revenue. In addition to organizational problems, critical thinking can be applied to an individual’s daily decisions. Regardless if critical thinking is used for individual problems or organizational problems, critical thinking benefits anyone who needs to make a decision. “Critical thinking is that mode of thinking—about any subject, content, or problem—in which the thinker improves the quality of his or her thinking by skillfully analyzing, assessing, and reconstructing it” (Paul & Elder, 2006, pg. xxiii). Critical thinking is something each person does throughout a day. Regardless if one is thinking about personal business or a problem faced by an organization, critical thinking is used. Critical thinking is the examination of one’s thoughts; identify strengths, identifying weaknesses, and building on one’s strengths while reducing or eliminating weaknesses (Paul & Elder, 2006). Someone who thinks critically uses unbiased information and supporting evidence to determine solutions for problems. An example of critical thinking is customers receiving invoices two weeks after the invoices are printed. This is considered a delay in receiving invoices and reduces the time allowed for the customer to pay the invoice based on the customer’s...

Words: 832 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Marketing Mix

...executing the conception, pricing, promotions, and distribution of ideas, goods, services, organizations and events. To create and maintain a relationship that will satisfy individual objective as well as the organizations. (Peters, S., 2005). Marketing is the driving force of any organization. There are four elements of the Marketing Mix product, place, price, and promotion. This paper will describe the four elements of the marketing mix, how each element is implemented in an organization, and how each element impacts the development of the organization’s marketing strategy and tactics. As an example we will use the organization that I work for Manufacturer Direct Sales Inc. Four elements of the marketing mix Four elements of the marketing mix include product, place, price, and promotion. Product is defined as “Bundle of physical, service, and symbolic attributes designed to satisfy a customer’s wants and needs.” (Peters, S., 2005). Place is defined as “Efforts to attract people and organizations to a particular geographic group.” (Peters, S., 2005). Price is defined as the exchange value for services and goods and promotion is defined a link between buyers and sellers that inform, persuade, and influence consumers to make a decisions regarding purchasing (Peters, S., 2005).Organizations use the four elements of the marketing mix to develop customer relationships and to make their products and services appealing to buyers and consumers. How each element is implemented in an Organization ...

Words: 1512 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Lean Thinking

...with a challenge to limit the production period in a bid to maintain the supply in an ever-innovative market setting. The purpose of this paper, therefore, is to dissect the nature of lean thinking, by investigating the definition of the term lean production and the methods and goals that associate with this concept. In addition to that, this essay will explain into detail how the lean management style differs from the other popular management concepts. As such, the article aims at giving a clear presentation of lean thinking and production and the manner in which they influence the business operations. This will happen through a review of the contemporary literature on the term lean, and a summary of the principles and practises associated with lean thinking as well as the stated purpose of the management style in event management operation. Based on this an in depth evaluation of the validity of lean thinking will be made in line with effective event management operations. Literature review Lean is often a short-term waste reduction and cost cutting technique. Lean thinking, therefore, is set of cost reduction toolkits that form the basis of a programme or initiative. The fundamental concept of creating a successful lean business system lies in achieving the desires of customers at the time they need it (Womack and Jones, 1996). As such, this implies the pursuit of perfect...

Words: 2580 - Pages: 11

Premium Essay

Critical Thinking Application

...Critical Thinking Application James Jones MGT/350 July 19, 2013 Douglas Reed Critical Thinking Application Critical thinking although to some may not seem as important as the air we breathe is more of a component of what makes us human beings. There is still yet to be determined a definite definition of critical thinking however there are several objectives that many have agreed upon. “Critical thinking is the art of thinking about thinking while thinking in order to make thinking better. It involves three interwoven phases: it analyzes thinking, it evaluates thinking, it improves thinking” (Paul & Elder, 2006, p. xvii). It is much more than possessing thoughts its living by a higher standard of thought. I worked as a Verizon Wireless technical support rep for five years and experienced every day the consequences of poor thinking. I had people call in because their telephone was not working because they had failed to think to power on their phone. Long gone are the days when people read their manuals for anything so much so that most of everything one purchases does not include one in the box, instead it is only an option to download from their website. Technical support used to be a tool for information to provide customers with knowledge they did not poses. Today we have become their source of second-order thinking because although there are times when a person has exhausted their first-order thinking before they call it is mostly the exception and not the rule...

Words: 735 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Business

...Thinking Critically Simulation Paper This paper will frame the problems in which Credenhill Industry is experiencing, and evaluate the decisions made in focusing on framing the problems and making decisions regarding the effectiveness of the decisions made. Credenhill Industry's systematically operates a $750 million company today. They accomplished this by amalgamating the distinguishing circumstance of running a triad of subsidiaries, rejecting to go public and appointing Linda James, who is considered by colleagues as one of the leading entrepreneurs of the times. The company uses a comprehensive program to discover and guide bright green managers to fast track career opportunity in a five month. This program entails a challenge to three of the coworkers respectively overseeing one of the three subsidiaries and mentored by Linda James. The challenge began with the news of taking over controls as Store Manager of a Credenhill consumer electronics store in Dallas Texas. The sheer excitements of the brand-new position weakened as the results of long lists of ongoing problems were determined. A new store has opened up recently close by severely reducing the revenue for Credenhill. This issue produced a snowball like effect to the department store and its employees. The new store carried a bigger inventory, competitive pricing and was allegedly to pay their employee a higher salary. If this were not enough it was divulged that we were in legal trouble because of neglecting...

Words: 1467 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Career Development Plan Part Ii Hrm/531

...that need specialized training to help them meet the goals. The next analysis should be done on the operation. This aspect will help assess what job specific requirements the employees need to be trained on. The final analysis is done on the individual level and will assess how each individual performs their job and what specific training may be necessary to help them do the job better (Casio, 2005). Organizationally, the strategic goal for InterClean is to become a global leader in providing products and solutions for all their customer’s sanitation needs. For the demographics portion of the analysis, there is no group that needs specialized training. In regards to the operations portion, the focus will be on training for customer service, critical thinking, diversity training, market research, and problem solving techniques. To determine which of the training is required by which employee, the final analysis will be done on the individual level to determine what strengths and weaknesses exist with each individual and what...

Words: 1121 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

People

...CHAPTER 1 ACCOUNTING IN ACTION Summary of Questions by STUDY Objectives and Bloom’s Taxonomy |Item | |1. | |51. | |224. | |235. | |270. | |1. | |4. | |12. | |13. ...

Words: 22818 - Pages: 92

Premium Essay

Critical Thinking

...Critical Thinking and ethics what does that mean, well according to dictionary.com Critical Thinking is “disciplined thinking that is clear, rational, open-minded, and informed by evidence”. There are several steps to Critical Thinking, Remembering, Understanding, Applying, Analyzing, Evaluating, and creating. I sometimes have a hard time with analyzing because; I sometimes set Unrealistic role expectations. I rely strongly on virtues associated with various roles; I sometimes run the risk of flourishing unrealistic role expectations. While at the same time Understanding is one of my best virtues, I would rather have sensibility over rationality, I believe the best results are accomplished by treating each situation in its own condition rather then bring into play a “one-size-fits-all solution”. I always follow my ethical code to a point, which affects my daily life for the better. When I don’t see eye to eye with someone I hear them out and keep an open mind, I live my life by a motto which is to each his own, which in my case means as long as you’re not hurting anyone do what makes you happy, this is something that has helped me avoid lots of arguments and unnecessary fights. Like my Ethical lens said my gift is compassion, I value equality, ethical lens did get one thing wrong it put, “when you are at your best, you demonstrate compassion for others, that’s wrong I always demonstrate compassion for others, whether I’m in a good mood or not. Now ethics in a professional environment...

Words: 566 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Decision

...greater presence on Kava by: Defining the issues that appear in this business scenario * Discussing the forces that are involved in formulation of the problem * Using problem formulation tools and techniques, describe the organizational and environmental obstacles in a way that considers various key stakeholders that will be impacted by decisions * Applying critical thinking in the decision-making process Critical Thinking Critical thinking requires a person to look at his or her own thinking process and put it through tests. Deconstructing the thinking and identifying weaknesses will allow the person to reconstruct it into something better (Paul & Elder, 2006). A person needs to be honest with himself and look at all aspects of the situation and why he is leaning toward one decision over another. Critical thinking occurs when a person thinks about their own thinking in depth and attempts to improve it. This paper will explore a personal experience in which I used critical thinking in a work-related decision, as well as the importance and benefits of critical thinking in this decision-making process. Real-life Example My position as Director of Human Resources in our information technology company provides me with many...

Words: 934 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Isfm 300 Case Study, Stage 1 Business Environment Analysis

...Below To Buy: http://hwaid.com/shop/isfm-300-case-study-stage-1-business-environment-analysis/ Before you begin this assignment, be sure you have read the “UMUC Haircuts Case Study” and be sure to take a look at the “Walmart Example.” Overview of Business Environment Analysis for UMUC Haircuts UMUC Haircuts has been in business since 1995 and has seen an increase in competition from a variety of competitors, as described in the Case Study. With the news that a Hair Cuttery is likely to open only five miles away, Myra, the owner of UMUC Haircuts, is concerned and has begun analyzing her situation and what could be done to remain competitive in this changing environment. She has recognized that scheduling her employees and her customers is causing her problems, and she thinks she should focus on that first, as it is fundamental to her business. Myra also believes that there must be a technology solution that could help her run her salon, but she has no idea where to start. You are a Systems Analyst, and Myra has asked you to help her with determining how she can improve her business. Myra has requested, specifically, that youverify and provide added support to her own analysis that has resulted in the identification of a Strategy for Competitive Advantage and a Business Process for Improvement. This will be the basis for defining business and systems requirements for an IT solution.This Strategy and IT Solution will help to bring UMUC Haircuts into the 21st century...

Words: 2447 - Pages: 10

Premium Essay

Ifsm 370 Project 2: White Paper Instructions

...papers to understand the content and format associated with these professional documents. The completed White Paper deliverable is due by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the due date shown in the Course Schedule. See the Additional Information section of the syllabus for the penalty for late or missed assignments and projects. The White Paper is valued at 12% of the course grade. Scenario Ullman, Manly, & Ulysses Corporation With 75,000 customers worldwide, 250 employees working in four locations in the United States and three European offices, and a catalog of more than 100,000 parts, Ullman, Manly & Ulysses Corporation (UMUC) relies on its network for its survival. In the past decade, UMUC has seen its business grow from just one location and a few local customers to the worldwide supplier it is today. But in the process of growing exponentially, it has overwhelmed its telecommunications network, which is currently managed by an outside telecommunications network management company. The network crashes frequently, resulting in customer service and e-mail interruptions that are costly to the company. The network management...

Words: 1357 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Critical Thinking

...Critical Thinking Application An average person’s mind is constantly thinking and functioning whether consciously or unconsciously. Basically, the things we think about are highly limited and biased relative to what our brain has been exposed to. Take for instance, the regular thinking we do in our daily interactions with our external environment, the memories we make, the hobbies and practices only out of routine. When we brush our teeth, we don’t really think too hard about that, our minds are just conditioned to do it. Our mind functions faster than we could ever imagine, but the tasks or output of the minds processes may be acted out by our body or senses in a slower way, and sometimes we may not even be aware of it. Critical thinking, on the other hand, is the extreme opposite of spontaneous thinking. It is referred to as disciplined thinking as it requires thorough analysis, comprehension and evaluation of a certain situation or idea to make sure that the output is flawless (Scriven & Paul, 2011). Critical thinking is also one of the important ingredients for a company’s success. Most of the time, critical thinking is only developed one a person is exposed to the workplace, especially those who are assigned in higher positions where their decision can greatly affect the entire organization. The executive members of a company including the directors and managers all engage in a planning stage wherein they discuss all the necessary strategies they should take in order...

Words: 935 - Pages: 4