...Running head: CRITICAL THINKING AND DECISION MAKING Individual Paper: Critical Thinking and Decision Making by Daniel Palliparambil DMBA610 – Ethical Leadership in Organizations & Society University of Maryland University College September 16, 2011 Individual Paper Introduction Outsourcing is a relevant and arguable issue in the United States. Jobs that were previously handled by American workers are already being handled by workers located in other countries that offer lower wages and lower costs of living. The case study describes the Department of Transportation of Illinois plans to outsource the management of information management systems. Ms. Barbara Glenn makes several arguments against this outsourcing in her memo to Mr. Cesar Padilla, the President of the FSEU (FSEU Memo, 2011). In the book, “Asking the Right Questions: A Guide to Critical Thinking (Tenth Edition), by M. Neil Brown and Stuart M. Keeley”, the authors examine the benefits of critical thinking as it relates to the process of asking the right kinds of questions. The authors define critical thinking: “as the awareness of a set of interrelated critical questions, the ability to ask and answer critical questions at appropriate times; and the desire to actively use the critical questions” (Brown & Keeley, 2010, p. 2). In my examination of the Memo by Ms. Barbara Glenn, I will apply the various steps developed by Brown and Keeley, to examine the arguments...
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...Dimensions of Critical Thinking Critical thinking is a process in our human mind. Each and every day human beings must do this whether consciously or unconsciously. A critical thinker process that I became well aware of that; I thought was just regular thinking was simply preparing dinner meals. I just simply looked at its’ association with natural living. Some insights that I gained from this exercise is that when using the critical thinking process you either make assumptions, be biased and or analyze the situations. Assumptions can be detrimental to someone’s character. Sometimes we as human beings don’t take into account all the hard evidence before making final decisions. We take a lead and go all the way and fill in our own blanks. The exercise has taught me that every situation, sentence, and statement needs to be evaluated thoroughly. We live in such a microwave society that we don’t want to take the extra time; we are always rushing and not taking the millisecond to make the right choice or make the right decision. When we are challenged about our decision then we re-evaluate the scenario and find the facts or make accusations whether justifiable or inconsistent. At some time or another we also can be very bias in our daily conversations. Sometimes we are not persuaded to change our thinking even when the evidence clearly states the truth. A critical thinker will always have a plan and analyze the evidence in hand. Critical thinking added to a person...
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...W2 Assignment "Eight Elements of Thought and Reasoning" The established elements of thought, as well as, reasoning are purpose, key question, information, assumptions, implications and consequences, point of view and, interpretations and conclusions. The aforementioned eight elements can be re-organized into four unique categories putting the identical ones in pairs. In that regard, the four categories will be purpose will be paired with key question. The reasoning of pairing them as such is because in the event of making an attempt to resolve a certain question, we have to think for a definite purpose. The original characteristic of the element of purpose is having the objective to accomplish something, which can be solving a key question. The point of view is paired with assumptions. This is due to the fact that a point of view can be based on assumptions. In some cases some point of views turn as things which are taken for granted (Elder et.al 2007). In addition, the concept element of thought can be paired with interpretations and theories. This is due to the fact that most of our interpretations and theories are simply based on various concepts. Originally, concepts refer to the ideas, principles, laws, or hypothesis which are utilized in thinking on how to make things sensible. In that regard, in the process of making things sensible we end up making interpretations on top of formulating theories. The final category will involve the pairing of information and implications...
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...Columbia and GREQAM Walter Bossert: Universit´ de Montr´al and C.R.D.E. e e David Donaldson: University of British Columbia * We thank Don Brown, Marc Fleurbaey, Philippe Mongin, John Weymark and a referee for comments and suggestions. Financial support through a grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada is gratefully acknowledged. August 20, 2001 Abstract This chapter provides a survey of utilitarian theories of justice. We review and discuss axiomatizations of utilitarian and generalized-utilitarian social-evaluation functionals in a welfarist framework. Section 2 introduces, along with some basic definitions, socialevaluation functionals. Furthermore, we discuss several information-invariance assumptions. In Section 3, the welfarism axioms unrestricted domain, binary independence of irrelevant alternatives and Pareto indifference are introduced and used characterize welfarist social evaluation. These axioms imply that there exists a single ordering of utility vectors that can be used to rank all alternatives for any profile of individual utility functions. We call such an ordering a social-evaluation ordering, and we introduce several examples of classes of such orderings. In addition, we formulate some further basic axioms. Section 4 provides characterizations of generalized-utilitarian social-evaluation orderings, both in a static and in an intertemporal framework. Section 5 deals with the special case of utilitarianism. We review some...
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...Applying Critical Thinking: Analyzing Memo from FSEU Director of Human Resources to President, FSEU Local No. 343 Abstract The Illinois State intends to privatize the Department of Transportation (DoT) information systems management function. This function is currently being performed by 75 State employees, 43 of whom are members of Federated State Employee Union (FSEU) Local 343. On May 12, 2010 the Governor of Illinois notified the President of FSEU Local 343 about the State’s intent. The President of FSEU has asked the union members if the union should oppose the outsourcing proposal. On June 5, 2010 the FSEU Director of Human Resources responded to the President of FSEU Local 343 with the union member’s discussion and recommended opposing the outsourcing proposal. The paper uses the methodology from the book “Asking the Right Questions – A Guide to Critical Thinking” by M. Neil Bowne and Stuart M. Keeley, to analyze the memo from FSEU Director of Human Resources to the President, FSEU Local No. 343. Introduction The Illinois State intends to privatize the Department of Transportation (DoT) information systems management function. The Governor of Illinois notified Mr. Cesar Padilla, the President of Federated State Employee Union (FSEU) Local 343 about the State’s intent on May 12, 2010. The President of FSEU has asked the union members if the union should oppose the outsourcing proposal. In response to the request from the President of FSEU Local No. 343, Ms...
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...economic conditions look less than desirable for the commercial aircraft industry at the moment due to several reasons: • The SARS outbreak • Terrorist risks • Post 9-11 flying fears • War With all of this in mind, the decision to produce a new aircraft becomes even more questionable when analyzing how this company is to remain a dominant player in the future. C. Boeing and the Industry Boeing has stuck with its current model for some time now and has not introduced a new aircraft since the 777 in 1994. In June 2003, Boeing announced the development of a new commercial jet called the 7E7 or the “Dreamliner”. The 7E7 has many projected benefits such as 20% less fuel, long and short-term options, a technologically advanced carbon re-enforced...
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...sensitivity analysis conducted. Customer Retention Assumptions Customer retention/attrition is estimated by the Company to arrive at the adjusted revenue, however, no support is provided for the 75% of probability of retention.(Exhibit XI) Retention rate can be expected by conducting statistical analysis of historical customer turnover and revenue growth rates. When historical customer data of sufficient quality is not available, it may be necessary to rely on management estimates or industry data. Probability of retention is important because it will have a huge impact on customer value and goodwill impairment. The following table will illustrate how different retention rates can affect goodwill impairment. For the next step, we will ask management for historical customer attrition data or other support to confirm the accuracy of the 75% retention rate assumed. Retention Rate | Customer Relationship value | Goodwill | Goodwill Impairment | 65% | 21 | 27 | 130 | 70% | 24 | 24 | 133 | 75% | 28 | 20 | 137 | 80% | 32 | 16 | 141 | 85% | 37 | 11 | 146 | Discount Rate Assumptions Appraisal Professionals LLC, used the Capital Asset Pricing Model to compute a Weighted Average Cost of Capital for discounting the cash flows of MMN Builders. In order to do this, the appraisers took into a consideration a lot of difference assumptions that our team would like further clarification on. One of the assumptions for this calculation is the estimates of the Size Premium...
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...Is the assumption of rational expectations sufficient to ensure policy neutrality? Expectations play a vital role in determining the behaviour of the economy. How agents respond to a policy decision is critical to understanding the size and direction of the economy. For example agents make decisions to buy/sell stocks depending on their expectations of future profits or future interest rates. Therefore policy makers should take into account the expectations of people who make choices that affect future outcomes. In addition to agents’ expectations of future, we need to consider what information is available to the agent and based on what kind of knowledge does the agent make a decision at the first period (t). Previously economists modelled expectations on recent past information available to agents which the agents than used to adapt to the current situation; this form of adaptive expectations behaviour means that agents learn from past experience to expect future event, which means that adaptive expectations will be useful when future events are the same as past. Let’s look at a simple example of adaptive expectations (AE) first to lay the foundation for the other important and more relevant assumption of rational expectations (RE). If we had an inflation rate today of 3%, agents who use AE will forecast that next period’s inflation rate as 3%. So, with this basic example of AE we would have π ’ π t − 1 Where inflation expected is equal to the lagged inflation rate....
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...Perishable Inventory Theory: A Review Author(s): Steven Nahmias Source: Operations Research, Vol. 30, No. 4 (Jul. - Aug., 1982), pp. 680-708 Published by: INFORMS Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/170438 . Accessed: 04/05/2011 21:21 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of JSTOR's Terms and Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp. JSTOR's Terms and Conditions of Use provides, in part, that unless you have obtained prior permission, you may not download an entire issue of a journal or multiple copies of articles, and you may use content in the JSTOR archive only for your personal, non-commercial use. Please contact the publisher regarding any further use of this work. Publisher contact information may be obtained at . http://www.jstor.org/action/showPublisher?publisherCode=informs. . Each copy of any part of a JSTOR transmission must contain the same copyright notice that appears on the screen or printed page of such transmission. JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact support@jstor.org. INFORMS is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Operations Research. http://www.jstor.org Perishable Inventory...
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...Critical Thinking “Critical thinking defines ability to weigh evidence, examine, arguments, and construct rational bases for generally accepted beliefs. Also a systematic approach to evaluating a problem” according to M. Neil Browne. “When using critical thinking he or she must be able to use reasoning and deduction in an argument. Asking the right questions is very important in the critical thinking process. Critical thinking involves viewing the situation and supporting the reason behind the solution. They will need to evaluate the situation, analyze the information, and research the topic to make sure they come to the right conclusion.” (M. Neil Browne, Stuart M. Keeley, Asking the Right Questions A Guide to Critical Thinking 8th Edition Prentice Hall) When using the decision-making process they need to identify the problem. He or she will need to have an alternative plan in case the original plan has pitfalls that they did not recognize in the beginning. After they implement the decision they will need to evaluate the decision to make sure it was the right choice for this particular time. Critical thinking is essential in today’s business world. The human element use assumptions and interference in our everyday encounters. These characteristics can defeat the goal we are trying to accomplish. There are things that affect our critical thinking processes are our values, personal beliefs, religion, and educational background. I find that in my work that I need...
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...discuss what critical thinking is and how my personal critical thinking skills have developed and possibly changed. Before starting the Critical and Creative Thinking course, I was unaware of the differences between thinking and critical thinking. The first assignment for the class was the “What Kind of Thinker Are You?” From this, I learned the differences between thinking and critical thinking, the strategies for developing critical thinking, and the different stages of thinking. What is Critical Thinking? Critical thinking is different from just thinking in general. Thinking is considered daydreaming, and is distorted, or uniformed. However, critical thinking is more controlled, is improved thinking, and is more of a problem solver. One would be critically thinking when he or she breaks each thought down into analyzing, and assessing each task. A critical thinker will direct their thinking with details and organization. “It is the ability to apply reasoning and logic to new or unfamiliar ideas, opinions, and situations. Thinking critically involves seeing things in an open-minded way and examining an idea or concept from as many angles as possible. This important skill allows one to look past their own views of the world and to better understand the opinions of others” (Wise Geek.org, 2013, para 1). What I have Significantly Learned I have learned many things about critical thinking; however, one of the most significant things that I have learned about critical thinking...
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...Report of the MP3 Project | | Report to Financial Manager Introduction This report is intended to outline the feasibility of the production of a new MP3 player, as laid out in the capital budgeting model provided. While the model itself is an abstraction and a simplification of the process, the intention is to produce an accurate estimate of the economics of production. Our model is a cash flow based appraisal techniques as a success of any business can partly be determined by its capacity to generate positive cash flows. Assumption Process This patent of the cutting-edge MP3 technique we currently possess will position us strongly for the next five years, and while competition is likely to increase our advertising spending projection reflects our assumption that the product will be very competitive. Heavy upfront costs will, however, need to be invested, in order to reach the achievable unit volume of 1,000,000 per year for the first five years. As a result, we are looking at implementing an advertising campaign: the first year will involve a standard $850,000 advertising budget, but with the intention of reducing this level by 15% per year given that momentum has been built. We will also have another advertising expense that will depend on the number of units sold, costed at $7/unit. From a fixed cost perspective, we expect $17,500,000 per year. New manufacturing equipment for this project is expected to $150,000,000, which can be depreciated straight line over...
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...Documentary and Fictional Photography Name Institutional Affiliation Documentary and Fictional Photography Introduction Documentary images in photography are considered to be more powerful, as the viewers are seem to understand the truth in documentary images compared to fictional images. This is so because, the documentary truth is better understood as the truth found in the manner in which people arrange their perceptions mentally. Further adding to the theory in a documentary film causes people to be more aware of how messages in photography are read and less about the reality that the film speaks about. This is definitely the reason why documentaries have been used in the modern society to appeal to economies, so that they support humanitarian aid and even invoke fear in people using such a political strategy. Documentary photography has played such a key role in ensuring media around the world reports about real situations in different parts of the globe. It has been enhanced by the use of mobile phones as people tend to record videos of real issues, upload them to a bigger platform so that more people can access them, for instance through YouTube, thus entering and transforming imagination of individuals (Ellis, 1989). Regardless of the fact that documentaries are just a strategy that is used in photography and filmography to ensure that the audience and the target viewers have been appealed to, they should also be appreciated for the excellent work they do in making photography...
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...going out 3, 5, or 10 years ... or more. • The financial projections are usually driven by ‘point estimates’ of demand (or sales) that are built on layers of assumptions and, thus, are difficult to forecast with any reasonable degree of precision. • So, the financial projections themselves – while confidence building (perhaps) – are always imprecise … and often flat-out wrong ! Discovery Driven Planning to the rescue … Classic publication: 1995 … frequent re-publication and referrals Discovery Driven Planning Basic Premises • Developing a forecast is harder than validating or refuting one (i.e. “over or under” likelihood) So, work backwards … determine how much you to have to sell to meet financial hurdles … and then ask yourself: “Can we do it ?” • Over time, learning occurs (i.e. “discovery”) and assumptions can be validated, refined, or refuted. So, start with ‘what you know’, keep a list of what you don’t know, and refine your estimates when you know more Discovery Driven Planning Basic Premises • Developing a forecast is harder than validating or refuting one (i.e. “over or under” likelihood) So, work backwards … determine how much you to have to sell to meet financial hurdles … and then ask yourself: “Can we do it ?” • Over time, learning occurs (i.e. “discovery”) and assumptions can be validated, refined, or refuted. So, start with ‘what you know’, keep a list of what you don’t know, and refine your estimates when you know more ...
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...THE 20TH CENTURY COMMUNICATION 4170: APPLIED ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION DR. KAREN L. ASHCRAFT I. CLASSICAL PERSPECTIVES (1900-1930) • • • • Some general assumptions: A “science” of organization will lead to greater efficiency and production. Organization owners should strive to control all organization resources. Individuals who follow orders and work hard can improve themselves. Workers respond to rational-economic motivation. One “best way” to complete any task Select personnel scientifically Compensate by production, not position Managers plan; workers implement the plan Example #1: Scientific Management (Frederick Taylor) → → → → Example #2: Bureaucracy (Max Weber) → → → → → → • • • • Clear, hierarchical system of authority Division of labor according to specialization Complete, “universal” system of rules re: personnel rights & responsibilities Exhaustive procedures for work performance Selection and promotion based on technical competence Impersonal member relations Status of communication: Viewed as a managerial tool to command and control workers Function: Emphasis on production & maintenance Structure: Formal, hierarchical, & downward Informal, horizontal, & social communication = obstacles that should be squelched II. HUMAN RELATIONS & RESOURCES (1930-1965) Some general assumptions of the Human RELATIONS movement: • • • “A happy worker is a productive worker” (shift from objective work design to social dimensions of work). Organizations should...
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