...Synopsis This essay attempts to analyze the theories and underlying models with regard of critical thinking. Firstly the essay examines different theories about critical thinking and relevant evaluations and discussions are followed. Then there are paragraphs demonstrate how critical thinking is linked to real problem thinking and why critical thinking is essential to problem solving especially the management practice. Finally a brief conclusion is drawn at the end of the essay. Diverse materials and references are utilized to cross examine the topic of critical thinking under a reasonably large contextual circumstance. As a project manager, it is of great importance to use critical thinking to understand new information, to evaluate and solve problems and to make sound decisions. Making decisions using critical thinking skills in today's world - a world with increasing number of conflicts, pressure and uncertainty is more imminent than ever before. Organizations and businesses today are confronted with multiple challenges including increasing conflicts brought by economic globalization, fast-paced developing technology and growing diversity. All of these highlight the importance of critical thinking in nowadays society. Critical thinking is the process of collecting and evaluating resources in order to make the most appropriate decision. By adopting critical thinking theory and inferred practice, decision makers such as project managers can effectively deal with these challenges...
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...Leadership Roles in the Workplace Prepared for Management and Supervision MGT-410 Instructor Ms. Jacqueline Carreras Prepared by Connie Burns-Marshall Management-Skills and Application by Rue & Byars book have a lot of useful information. It focuses on the essential skills that are needed to become a successful manager. It’s a roadmap for critical thinking that’s needed in leadership where problem solving, decision-making and empowerment are daily routine roles. Senior management value leaders that can focused on accomplishing organizational objectives accurately and efficiently with these professional skill sets. At the end of each chapter the questions are designed to promote critical thinking as a leader. (Rue, p. 3) Healthy control of my emotional intelligence is another important attribute that’s needed in the workplace and is related to critical thinking skills, since a calm head allows me to engage more effectively; both attributes can help me establish better relationships with co-workers, senior and middle management and external resources. Stress and challenges are common in practically all workplaces and jobs. Healthy emotional responses and expressions in response to stressful situations will help me project an image of professionalism, avoid negative consequences and maintain an open mind for critical thinking. If I have better control over my emotions I will typically show poise and patience in response to a stressful...
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...Critical Thinking Applications MGT 350 – Critical Thinking; Strategies in Decision-Making University of Phoenix May 20, 2010 Critical Thinking Applications Making a decision is a tough process and to make a good sound decision, critical thinking must have a defining role. Critical thinking is developing the discipline to assess contradictions and known facts to make a decision. They cannot make a decision without believing in the facts of the argument. This is the impact of critical thinking in a decision-making environment. In the work environment, everything is determined by the ability to think and make decisions. However, at times, there can be a lack of awareness of how one should make decisions and unfortunately, the absence of clear thinking can lead to failure both in one’s professional and personal lives. Results from decision from not thinking clear will lead to frustration and in some cases, complete failure. To avoid failure and become a better thinker, critical thinking needs to be applied to every aspect of life. It can lead to performing more effectively both in personal and professional lives by empowering oneself. It can lead to avoiding huge mistakes, help to gain clarity and give one the opportunity to discover new opportunities. ...
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...Critical Thinking University Of Phoenix Mgt 350 March 25, 2008 Critical Thinking Critical thinking is the intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action. In its exemplary form, it is based on universal intellectual values that transcend subject matter divisions: clarity, accuracy, precision, consistency, relevance, sound evidence, good reasons, depth, breadth, and fairness. It entails the examination of those structures or elements of thought implicit in all reasoning: purpose, problem, or question-at-issue, assumptions, concepts, empirical grounding; reasoning leading to conclusions, implications and consequences, objections from alternative viewpoints, and frame of reference. Critical thinking in being responsive to variable subject matter, issues, and purposes is incorporated in a family of interwoven modes of thinking, among them: scientific thinking, mathematical thinking, historical thinking, anthropological thinking, economic thinking, moral thinking, and philosophical thinking. I work for a company that manages properties (Timeshare Industry), on the first week of my employment; I was asked to evaluate the goal of improving the property’s competitiveness in the marketplace...
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...Critical Thinking Application Cindy Peterkin MGT/350 October 6, 2010 Jamal Ibrahim Critical Thinking Application Critical thinking is the disciplined art of ensuring that you use the best thinking you are capable of in any set of circumstances. The general goal of thinking is to figure out some situation, solve some problem, answer some questions, or resolve some issue (Paul & Elder, 2009). There are many definitions of critical thinking. Some people tend to use the method that benefits them the most. They also use critical thinking in all aspects of life whether it is personal or work related. When dealing with personal issues people tend to use the method that will benefit them. When dealing with work related issues people think of different ways to solve the issue or problem that will benefit all involved. Critical thinking is important when trying to come up with new ideas and different points of view. According to Paul & Elder, everyone thinks. It is our nature to do so. However, much of our thinking, left to itself, is biased, distorted, partial, uniformed or down-right prejudiced. Yet the quality of our life and that of what we produce, make or build depends precisely on the quality of our thought. Shoddy thinking is costly, both in money and in quality of life. Excellence in though, however, must be systemically cultivated (2009). Critical thinking is the art of analyzing and evaluating thinking with a view to improving it. Critical...
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...systems management function. In order to validate each argument in the memo I will apply the critical thinking model from the book “Asking the Right Questions” by Browne and Keeley (2010). This model is comprised of ten steps for an audience to critically analyze a conclusion by speakers and writers. The first step of the critical thinking model is to identify the conclusion of a speaker’s or writer’s argument (Browne & Kelley, 2010). Browne and Kelley (2010) define the conclusion of a speaker or writer as the “message that the speaker or write wishes you to accept”. The conclusion of the business memo is stated by Ms. Ford, “APEU Local No. 121 should challenge the governor’s proposed privatization of the DMV information systems management function as an unfair management practice”. The conclusion in this memo is located at the end of the memo and clearly stated in the conclusion section however to validate that this statement is the conclusion, identification of the issue is necessary. Browne and Kelley (2010) define an issue as a “question or controversy responsible for the conversation or discussion”. The critical thinking model describes two types of issues that could exist in a speaker’s or writer’s argument: Descriptive issue which raise questions about the accuracy of descriptions; or Prescriptive issues which raise questions about what the accepted decision should be or what is right versus what is wrong (Browne & Kelley, 2010). In this memo the issue is...
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...Running head: CRITICAL THINKING APPLICATION PAPER Critical Thinking Application Paper Beatriz Whitman University of Phoenix Critical thinking: Strategies in decision-making 350 Robert Wenger July 26, 2010 Critical Thinking Application Paper Making decisions is a skill that people use daily in their personal and professional lives. Although people make decisions often, knowing how to think critically is a learned skill that not everyone does effectively. Thinking critically allows a decision-maker to analyze a problem or situation in a structured fashion to come to a sound conclusion. In this paper I will explain critical thinking and provide an example from my own personal experience applying critical thinking in the workplace. I will also look at the importance and benefits of critical thinking in the decision-making process. “Critical thinking is self-guided, self-disciplined thinking which attempts to reason at the highest level of quality in a fair-minded way. People who think critically consistently attempt to live rationally, reasonably, empathically” (The Critical Thinking Community [CTC], 2009, para 8). Effective critical thinkers are non-discriminatory, which enables them to consider all relevant viewpoints equally without letting assumptions or bias interfere. These strong-sense critical thinkers place value in the fair and just and make ethical decisions (Paul & Elder, 2006). To think critically, a person must have the ability to view...
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...Decision making and Thinking is a part of our lives like breathing, people don’t stop to analyze why they use this process. People may think that thinking and decision making is a simple process, there are many styles of thinking for every issue people come across in their daily lives. The four different styles of critical thinking are creative, logical, scientific, and persuasive. The different styles of thinking are fit to the different issues and they require thought and analysis to find the best fit. The thinking styles each have a different effect on the issue, so one will need to think about this as another variable. People use the thinking styles to remember, and perceive information, and also solve problems. In this paper we will discuss the four types of Thinking and Decision making and give workplace examples for each. Scientific Thinking The style of scientific thinking has changed the world. In the field of medicine, scientists have been successful in finding cures for diseases, developing new drugs that can extend life, and treatments that can improve the quality of life have been invented through this important style of thinking. The four major steps in the scientific thinking process are observation, hypothesis formulation, experimentation, and verification (Kirby & Goodpaster, 2007). Scientific Thinking Decision Making Process Observation = Identify the problem Hypothesis...
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...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...
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...Thinking Critically Simulation Review Paper MGT/350 July 5, 2011 Thinking Critically Simulation Review Paper Thinking Critically Simulation will test the ability of a manager, in real world scenarios. Using learned knowledge to diagnose the correct problem, while using techniques and other tools to solve the underlining issues. First this simulation applies the decision making techniques and evaluation tools in solving the problems that arise in this business model. Second this simulation teaches mangers in developing the techniques; that will assist them in making decision that will generate a more predictable outcome. Third this simulation will take in account the decision making steps and use the decision making worksheets to evaluate the findings in the simulation. Finally, the assignment will assist future managers on the basic process of managing developing techniques and decision making skills in becoming a better leader and manager that uses critically thinking in making business decisions. The first phase of the simulation the team was designated for the most challenging assignment that Linda James had to offer. Our team took charge of a company with numerous issues. Some issues the company was facing included: declining sales, employee attrition, legal action, inventory, product mix, variable pay, and Wide Area Network (WAN) problems. Aware of the background of this company and knowing the symptoms Credenhill is experiencing, our team identified and evaluated...
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...The Manager as a critical thinker Amos Agatovure University of Maryland University College Section 9047 October 16, 2015. Professor Martha Young Introduction Critical thinking is a term used most often by people and sometimes really don’t think about it what means and why questions are asked in a setting ways or why setting phrases are asked how and why? According to the University of Maryland University College (UMUC) Crit-Think-Audio, critical thinking model helps in the analyzation and finding solution to complex organizational problems that affect decision making ability of managers. By definition, critical thinking means making reasoned judgement that are logical and well thought-out. That is, a way of thinking that you don’t just accept all argument and conclusions, but rather you have an attitude by questioning every notion which raises the question of how and why? According to the UMUC Crit-Think-Audio, people who asked questions on how get a job and the people that ask question why be there bosses. However, this paper is for the analyzation of the Cliffside Holding Company of Massapequa (CHCM) Memo, and also, using the critical thinking model as described in the textbook, asking the right questions and applying the several steps as reveled by Browne and Keeley (Browne & Keeley, 2015, to measure up the argument described in the CHCM memo. The critical thinking model was prepared and applied in a memo by CHCM...
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...Critical Thinking Application Paper Stacy Parks MGT/350 31January2010 Raquishela Stewart Critical Thinking Application Critical thinking involves much more than merely thinking about an issue and coming up with a conclusion. Everybody has the ability to think, but individual thinking is not fully informed and is usually biased (Kirby & Goodpaster). Most individuals can make simple decisions based upon experience and training. Many organizations even have guides and resources to help aide managers with organizational decisions based upon the most frequent issues that may present within the organization. In this instance critical thinking is not required; however critical thinking is required when there is no instruction or guidelines to follow and a decision must be made that will affect others. The quality and success of an organization depends upon the quality of the thought and evaluation managers and leaders place in their decision making( Kirby & Goodpaster). Critical thinking involves the careful evaluation of evidence to help guide through the process of decision making. Critical thinkers must analysis, and evaluate information to reach a well-informed conclusion (Paul & Elder). Critical thinkers generally gather their information from personal experiences, communication with others, questioning and reasoning. Critical thinkers possess the ability to apply a level of reasoning to situations that may be unfamiliar with. Thinking critically means...
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...Actions Introduction The first phase or the starting up of a new project in the life cycle of project management is the initiation phase. This is where the new project has definition…definition of its objectives, scope, purpose and deliverables to be produced. This is the most crucial phase because of the scope and hiring of a project team because only with a clearly defined scope and a suitably skilled team, can you ensure successful project. This is also the point of hiring the project team, setting up the project office and reviewing the project to gain approval so the next phase can begin (Project initiation phase, 2003). This paper will outline categories of project leadership tasks and present examples of actions/considerations for each category that needs to be performed and explanations of why the action is critical to initiating the project. In addition, this paper will apply the Ned Herrmann Model of thinking styles and describe the type of thinking style that would best fit with the delegated individual. Outline the categories of project leadership tasks and provide an example of actions and considerations for each category that would need to be performed. For each example, explain why the action is critical to initiating the project. The Initiation phase is the conceptualization point in the project or the project’s reason for being (Project management guideline, 2006). There are seven categories of project leader responsibilities…Align project with parent...
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...Introduction Critical thinking is a rational disciplined procedure of conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating information gathered from observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action. In its exemplary form, it is based on universal intellectual values that transcend subject matter divisions: clarity, accuracy, precision, consistency, relevance, sound evidence, good reasons, depth, breadth, and fairness (Critical Thinking, 2009). According to the Foundation for Critical Thinking, Critical thinking can be seen as having two components: 1) a set of information and belief generating and processing skills, and 2) the habit, based on intellectual commitment, of using those skills to guide behavior. It is thus to be contrasted with: 1) the mere acquisition and retention of information alone, because it involves a particular way in which information is sought and treated; 2) the mere possession of a set of skills, because it involves the continual use of them; and 3) the mere use of those skills ("as an exercise") without acceptance of their results (Critical Thinking, 2009). This paper will offer insight into the benefit and importance of critical thinking in the workplace. The Importance of Critical Thinking A manager is expected to make numerous decisions that to some degree will have future repercussions on her department; perhaps the entire organization. A manager needs to ‘Act’, not ‘React’...
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...the associate-degree (ADN) level versus the baccalaureate-degree level in nursing (BSN) is miniscule. The BSN program incorporates most of the curriculum taught in the ADN program, excluding the leadership/ management, public health and critical thinking aspects. In 1951, Mildred Montag introduced a 2-year degree program (ADN), which trained the nurses for “intermediate functions requiring skill and some judgment” (Schank & Stollenwerk, 1988). In Montag’s curriculum, the role of nurse was focused on clinical skills and mostly task oriented. Due to the advanced education, a BSN graduate varies from a ADN graduate, in that they are well equipped to have a broader scope of practice, better comprehension of the culture, economic and public health issues that impact the patients. According to the American Association of College of Nursing (2012), nurses prepared at the BSN level, tend to have lower mortality rates, scarcer medication errors, and encouraging outcomes (Fact Sheet, 2012). In this paper, nursing judgment on patient care situations will be the differentiated between ADN and BSN competencies, which regard to the three major factors only required within BSN education: leadership/management, critical thinking and public health nursing. The art of leadership/management in nursing consist of the ability to communicate with staff and to recognize new resources that can be utilized to enhance patient care. A BSN graduate acquires leadership qualities such as motivating, inspiring...
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