...Critical Thinking Vonda Willey MGT 350/ Critical Thinking: Strategies in Decision Making February 14, 2011 Daryl Korinek Critical Thinking Critical thinking can mean different things to different people. Many people have developed new definitions of critical thinking. One of the definitions is “Critical thinking is the identification and evaluation of evidence to guide decision making.” (2005). One other definition of critical thinking is “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). An example of using critical thinking in the workplace would be working at a homeless shelter and connecting clients with resources that he/she would be qualified for that are available throughout the local county. When looking into resources that are available it is essential that staff members do not look only look at the normal resources but also look at the new not so common resources. This requires the use of critical thinking. Staff members must evaluate the information made available by the client as well as the information made available through the agency providing the resource. Some of the agencies that Safe Horizons collaborates with also require the staff member to evaluate the client’s motivational level. When contacting other agencies it is imperative that staff members have...
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...EDUCATION Critical thinking and analysis: a model for written assignments Sharon L Edwards W hat is critical analysis? In the author’s personal experience this question has been answered by the following statement: ‘It is being critical of the literature.’ However, this does not answer the question. A literature search also failed to provide any information on critical analysis. The justification for developing a model for critical analysis, however, was not solely the lack of available literature. Other reasons included: to provide a definition of the terms; and to help both educationalists and students interpret the concepts involved. Nurse educationalists and nursing students lack a clear understanding of the critical processes and this could severely diminish the profession’s ability to articulate issues that are imperative to the advancement of nursing practice in the future. This article recommends a model of critical analysis that can be used by students and educationalists. It suggests that critical thinking and analysis are interrelated and complementary, but not synonymous. It gives examples of the model’s components in order to clarify their meaning. The model will hopefully give students a premise on which to base their assignments, and nurse educationalists will be able to incorporate it into their teaching practice. It will also provide an element of reality to critical analysis which will prevent it from becoming so abstract and idealistic as to render...
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...Critical Thinking Application Paper Thinking is a very common in every second in life that many people do realize how important thinking is to how people live. How a critical thinking has been done there is always thinking going on. "The best thinkers use their ability to think well in every dimension of their lives" (Paul & Elder, 2006). In this paper, discussing the definition of critical thinking, my personal experiences with critical thinking, and the importance and benefits of critical thinking in the logical decision-making process. "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 taking charge of the structures inherent in thinking and imposing intellectual standards upon them" (Scriven & Paul, 2004). As humans are growing up in school or in family, they are taught to think logically about subjects and decisions that are being made. Critical thinking is more in depth thinking and speaking people to think outside of the box and take a hard look at what they are doing and analyze it to come up with a more effective decision. Everything they know and think is based on something that they have learned or observed in their lifetime and it will continue every day. “The best thinkers analyze their thinking, evaluate their thinking and improve their thinking” (Paul & Elder, 2006). When I think back to situations I have been put in I can see that I was not thinking...
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...Critical Thinking: Compare and Contrast Latrenda Suggs RSC 801, Section L11 Professor Barker Capitol College Abstract The constructs of this paper will compare and contrast the various definitions of critical thinking. Many of the scholarly articles that I have researched for this paper provide insight of various reasoning as to the ideas of what critical thinking means. Although the wording is very different for each definition they seem to overlap each of in a sense. Some of the researchers of these articles read as though they took a deeper reflection of what critical thinking means. Critical thinking is very important for people all of ages. Critical thinking is detrimental to a student’s success. Introduction Critical thinking is essential for students and people in everyday life. Critical thinking skills are what characterizes’ the way a person thinks and learn. Critical thinking is where ideas are formed. Many researchers interpret critical thinking in different ways. Critical thinking can be used in every field such as engineering, teaching, nursing and business. Some people don’t understand truly what critical thinking mean and how to access their full potential. In 2007 a study was conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics which reveals that the United States was behind the curve on critical thinking. Critical thinking methods aren’t being applied in schools as they should be. Students lack problem solving skills which lead to problems with...
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...Thinking And Decision Making View Full Essay There are a number of different ways to describe how people think and make decisions. How one person thinks and makes decisions is usually never the same as another. Every person has a preferential approach in thinking to both solving problems and making decisions. Four basic types of critical thinking can be defined as: 1. Creative Thinking; this style of thinking has a fundamental ability to imagine, invent something new, or combine or change existing ideas. Creative thinking is also the ability to accept change and the willingness and flexibility to play with ideas and possibilities. (Harris, 1998) 2. Logical Thinking; is a learned mental process encompassing a process of constant reasoning to draw a conclusion. Logical thinking is more the basis of sequential thought, taking important ideas and arranging them together in steps. To comply with a logical thinking strategy; the essential criteria are to understand all the facts and procedures. 3. Scientific Thinking; relies on the behaviors of observing, hypothesizing, experimenting and classifying. These steps provide a sequence to prove the train of thought that closely resemble the scientific methods and processes. Scientific thinking realizes that emotions are not evidence, feelings are not facts, and subjective beliefs are not substantive beliefs.. (Schafersman, 1994) 4. Persuasive Thinking; is the ability to influence ourselves or others to accept a point...
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...benefits of critical thinking in the decision-making processes Critical Thinking: Strategies in decision making MGT/ 330 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. http://www.criticalthinking.org/aboutCT/definingCT.cfm. Scriven M; Paul R: A working definition of critical thinking. One may asked, why is critical thinking important? I believe that Critical Thinking is important...
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...management strategy at a department meeting, hiring a new mid-level manager – what do all of these activities have in common? Critical thinking is required in each situation to adequately assess the situation and act accordingly. We may not be aware of the frequency with which we employ critical thinking, but it is vital to good decision making. Without critical thinking, managers can fall into the habit of reacting on impulse, responding to gut feelings alone, or relying only on the advice of others when making important decisions. Understanding the relationship between critical thinking and decision making is the first step towards making wise decisions. This week's focus is on critical thinking and how it relates to decision making. Topics include defining critical thinking, benefits of thinking critically, and the relationship between critical thinking and decision making. Week in Relation to the course Good decision making is the backbone of sound management. The University of Phoenix nine-step decision-making model requires a sequence of steps leading to a sound, defensible decision. Critical thinking is a vital component of making good decisions, defining the decision-making strategy by analyzing the thinking process involved. A firm grasp of the critical-thinking components will equip managers to make sound, considered decisions. Discussion of a Key Point, Thread, or Objective Critical Thinking Definition and Benefits "Critical thinking is that mode of thinking - about any...
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...Critical Thinking and Ethics Critical Thinking and Ethics Critical Thinking and Ethics go hand in hand. A person’s thoughts and ideas, what allows them to think critically are shaped by their beliefs, values, and experiences. Those personal beliefs, values, and experiences form a person's ethics. Their ethics affect their thought process at all levels. Critical Thinking When defining critical thinking, finding an agreed upon definition was not a cut and dry task. “Librarians acknowledge that there is little agreement concerning the definition of critical,” (Cody, 2006) Robert Weissberg defines critical thinking as "The ability to use reason to move beyond the acquisition of facts to uncover deeper meaning." (Weissberg, 2013) I agree this is an accurate definition of critical thinking. The critical thinking process uses these three strategies, Check your attitudes, Check for logic, and Check the evidence to allow you to use all six types of thinking types to look at the question from more than one answer. Ethical Lens When using the Ethical Lens Inventory, I found that my preferred lens is the Results Lens. The results lens maintains that I listen to my intuition to determine the greatest good for each individual. My Core Values are Autonomy and Sensibility. These values state my belief that protecting the rights of an individual is the best way to assure that everyone is treated fairly. I believe the best results are achieved by examining each situation. Rather...
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...The Relationship between Critical Thinking and Ethics Introduction Critical thinking is essential to the success of every human activity, the quality of what we do in our daily lives depend on the effectiveness of our thought, morally or immorally. Critical Thinking "Critical thinking is the use of those cognitive skills or strategies that increase the probability of a desirable outcome. It is used to describe thinking that is purposeful, reasoned and goal directed - the kind of thinking involved in solving problems, formulating inferences, calculating likelihoods, and making decisions when the thinker is using skills that are thoughtful and effective for the particular context and type of thinking task. Critical thinking also involves evaluating the thinking process – the reasoning that went into the conclusion we've arrived at the kinds of factors considered in making a decision. Critical thinking is sometimes called directed thinking because it focuses on a desired outcome." Halpern, Diane F. Thought and Knowledge: An Introduction to Critical Thinking. 1996. Critical thinking occurs when individuals are allowed to analyze and evaluates evidence, argument, claim and beliefs of their task and draw conclusions. Critical thinking is what enhances our thoughts in the decision making process. * Ethics Richard William Paul and Linda Elder define ethics as "a set of concepts and principles that guide us in determining what behavior helps or harms sentient creatures"...
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...strategic management? Strategic management can be used to determine mission, vision, values, goals, objectives, roles and responsibilities, timelines, etc. Top of Category What is strategic planning? Strategic planning is a management tool, period. As with any management tool, it is used for one purpose only: to help an organization do a better job - to focus its energy, to ensure that members of the organization are working toward the same goals, to assess and adjust the organization's direction in response to a changing environment. In short, strategic planning is a disciplined effort to produce fundamental decisions and actions that shape and guide what an organization is, what it does, and why it does it, with a focus on the future. (Adapted from Bryson's Strategic Planning in Public and Nonprofit Organizations). A word by word dissection of this definition provides the key elements that underlie the meaning and success of a strategic planning process: The process is strategic because it involves preparing the best way to respond to the circumstances of the organization's environment, whether or not its circumstances are known in advance; nonprofits often must respond to dynamic and even hostile environments. Being strategic, then, means being clearr bout the organization's objectives, being aware of the organization's resources, and incorporating both into being consciously responsive to a dynamic environment. The process is about planning because it involves intentionally...
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...Continuing Academic Success Mehgan Matherne GEN/200 April 27, 2015 Rick Guliuzza Continuing Academic Success In order for one to fully achieve greatness and success, they must understand how to apply different strategies throughout their life that they learned during their academic career. One must take personal responsibility for their success in their education and career because you are your biggest contributor to your success. You can attain success by understanding who you are, how you learn, and how to utilize the many resources available to you. One of the most necessary tools to conquer is the process of setting goals. It’s not just necessary to set goals, but you must also understand why you are setting them. I want to earn my Bachelor’s Degree in Health Administration by November 2017. I have worked in the healthcare industry since I was 18 years old; however, I never enjoyed the clinical side of the business. As for my career, I want to work in Healthcare Administration at Ochsner Pediatrics Office. My husband had brain surgery in February 2012 at Ochsner, and the entire staff was fantastic. I want to work in the Pediatrics' department because I became a Certified Medical Administrative Assistant in February 2015 and completed my internship at a local pediatrician’s office. I found much self-gratification in working with children because I was able to assist financially strained families by finding them affordable insurance. Setting goals maps out...
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...SciVerse ScienceDirect Journal of Business Research Antecedents and outcomes of strategic thinking Byeong-Joon Moon ⁎ Kyung Hee University, Republic of Korea, School of Management, Kyung Hee University, Republic of Korea a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t This study focuses on the factors that influence strategic thinking at the organizational level. Based on previous research on strategic thinking in diverse management fields including marketing strategy, strategic management, and human resource management, this research provides a hypothetical model that links the firm's internal and external variables regarding strategic thinking at the organizational level, which in turn links to marketing performance. The results of empirical analysis provide evidence that the attitude of firms' management toward risk taking, the CEO's emphasis on strategic thinking, interdepartmental teams in the organization, and marketing competency foster strategic thinking at the organizational level, but formalization in the organizational structure impedes it. Contrary to the proposed hypotheses, centralization in the organizational structure is positively related to strategic thinking at the organizational level. The results also show that market turbulence and technological turbulence foster strategic thinking at the organizational level and there is a positive relationship between strategic thinking and marketing performance. © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Article history:...
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...Decisions in Paradise, Part II Veronica Evaristo MGT/350 December 5, 2011 Ken Rath Decisions in Paradise, Part II The community of Kava is presented with various environmental challenges that affect the progress of the economy. As an organization in this location, running a business also poses a complex trial to be profitable and successful. ANZ Guam, Inc. (ANZ), a new banking institution in Kava, realizes these challenges to be grow its business and simultaneously provide to the community. Considering most people from Kava would not appeal to the products of a bank, ANZ hopes to provide adequate financial education to the community. With a general banking knowledge in the people’s hands, they will understand how banking products can benefit their financial needs. Collaborative Decision-Making In Kava, there are many natural disasters that occur compromising the country’s key elements that help stimulate the economy. Disaster threats like tsunamis, typhoons, floods, and earthquakes destroy the processing and plantations of coffee, cocoa, spices, banana, and sugar. How do the people and business owners recover from these catastrophes? The community can receive financial gain by learning the bank’s benefits of saving money and borrowing money to assist through these hard times. The plan for this organization is to market deposit accounts for the people and businesses in Kava and provide the education of saving and managing money. In addition, the bank hopes...
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..."Identify and discuss the skills and strategies needed for effective learning" Introduction The assignment focuses on the skills and strategies of effective learning. Discussion will be on the effectiveness of these skills and strategies within the learning environment. Within this study the writer has identified multiple possibilities for effective learning. The subject is large therefore the writer has grouped the themes together to make discussion more focused. Main Discussion Within the skills and strategies to be discussed it has been identified that some interlink with each other and can be equally as valid a skill, as a strategy. To help explain this the writer feels an accurate definition of both terms is needed for better understanding of how some of the ideas within this assignment interlink and therefore are helpful to the learner. Skill as defined in the Oxforddictionaries.com, (2016): The ability to do something well; expertise. Strategy taken from the same source: A plan of action designed to achieve a long term goal or overall aim. McTighe and Wiggins, (2013) suggests skill to be a personal ability needed to use strategies to achieve a goal whilst strategies themselves are an overall approach to using all resources to achieve a goal. Schmeck, (1988) goes further to say that skills are something we can do either intentionally or without conscious decision whilst strategies are conscious and intentional. When we are choosing to expand...
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...are things that a manager sometimes cannot help or avoid. However, the system of Project Management is more than effective. It will allow executing the project to a successful one. The benefits of project management are more than beneficial and allow having a project become cost effective and the system allows order, organization and a process than can be used in all aspects of an organization. Project Management is a system that “provides people with a powerful set of tools that improves their ability to plan, implement, and manage activities to accomplish specific organizational objectives (Larson & Gray, 2010)”. From this first definition, the understanding is that Project Management enhances the planning, implementation and management of a project or activity in order to reach its primary and ultimate organizational goal. Another definition of Project Management is “a results-oriented management style that places a premium on building collaborative relationships among a diverse cast of characters (Larson & Gray, 2010)”. In any project there has to be a result or many results. Either positive or negative. Project Management composes of a team of different individuals with different minds and thoughts in regards of doing things. A team is set up in a manner to have everyone seeing eye to eye and more than able to execute his or her duties and capable to back up the others in times of need. The Project Management...
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