Ch.8 Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

Characteristics of Critical Thinkers

• Truth Seeking: Inclined to seek out facts, even if they fail to support one’s beliefs or self-interests.

• Open-minded: Interested in others views; able to control personal bias.

• Analytical: Apply reason and evidence; anticipate consequences of actions.

• Methodical: Focused, organized approach to all problems.

• Self-Confident: Trust one’s own reasoning skills.

• Inquisitive: Curious and eager to acquire knowledge.

• Recognize Limitations: Able to reach closure in the absence of complete information.

• Cognitively Mature: Awareness that multiple solutions can be acceptable.

Barriers

• Mine is better belief

• Limiting options

• Pride

• Resistance to change

• Conformity rather than independency

• Stereotyping: Rigid thinking that prevents us from considering others ideas.

• Lack of self-confidence

Ways to determine if we have a problem

• Performance metrics

• Observation

• Someone informs us

• Audit or search

• Intuition

3 Approaches to problems

• Problem avoider

• Problem solver

• Problem seeker

Following criteria to prioritizing

1. Impact on customer satisfaction

2. Cost to implement

3. Available resources

4. Regulatory compliance concerns

Data gathering terms

Frequencies-how often?

Amounts-how much?

Durations-how long?

Percentage-compared to the total amount?

Location-where?

Variations-from standard or norm