College Of Administrative And Financial Sciences MGT 312 Ass

College Of Administrative And Financial Sciencesmgt 312assignment 2dea

Read the attached article titled as “3 Simple habits to improve your critical thinking” by Helen Lee Bouygues, published in Harvard Business Review, and answer the following questions: (Marks)

a. Summarize the article and explain the main issues discussed in the article. (In words)

b. What do you think about the article in relation to what you have learned in the course about how to improve your critical thinking? Use additional references to support your argument. (In words)

c. What do you understand by groupthink? According to the article, how can we prevent people from engaging in groupthink? Use additional references to support your argument. (In words)

d. “Critical thinking is the opposite of creative thinking.” Do you agree? Provide examples of why you agree or disagree. (In words) [Please answer on the next page]

Paper For Above instruction

The article “3 Simple habits to improve your critical thinking” by Helen Lee Bouygues, published in Harvard Business Review, offers practical insights into enhancing critical thinking skills through straightforward daily habits. Bouygues emphasizes that critical thinking, crucial in decision-making and problem-solving, can be developed and refined with intentional practices. The core issues discussed include the importance of questioning assumptions, engaging diverse perspectives, and reflective thinking to sharpen analytical abilities.

Firstly, Bouygues advocates cultivating a habit of questioning assumptions, which involves challenging existing beliefs and biases. This habit prompts individuals to look beyond surface-level information and consider alternative explanations or solutions. The article highlights that by habitually questioning, people can avoid cognitive biases that hinder effective decision-making. Secondly, diversifying perspectives is another habit emphasized in the article. Bouygues suggests actively seeking views different from one’s own to broaden understanding and avoid group polarization or echo chambers. This practice fosters empathy and critical evaluation of one’s beliefs and opinions.

Lastly, Bouygues underscores the importance of reflective thinking as a habitual practice. Regularly reviewing one’s decisions and thought processes allows individuals to recognize patterns, biases, and errors, thus improving future reasoning. These habits, according to Bouygues, can be integrated into daily routines with minimal effort but yield significant improvements in critical thinking proficiency. The article also discusses that these habits can help individuals become more aware of their thinking patterns, enabling better judgment and problem-solving capabilities.

In relation to course learnings, I believe Bouygues’ emphasis on questioning assumptions and diversification of perspectives align closely with recognized strategies to improve critical thinking. For example, critical thinking involves analyzing information objectively, which is supported by the habit of questioning assumptions. According to Facione (2015), critical thinking entails reasoning to distinguish between fact and opinion, which is facilitated through questioning and evaluation of evidence.

Furthermore, the practice of engaging with diverse perspectives aligns with the development of open-mindedness, a vital component of critical thinking outlined by Paul and Elder (2014). These practices challenge biases, encourage inquisitiveness, and promote analytical judgment, which are fundamental in making informed decisions.

Groupthink refers to the psychological phenomenon where the desire for harmony or conformity within a group leads to irrational or suboptimal decision-making. It suppresses dissent, discourages alternative viewpoints, and can result in poor group outcomes. The article suggests that to prevent groupthink, leaders should foster an environment where questioning and dissent are encouraged, and diverse opinions are valued. Bouygues emphasizes the importance of critical evaluation and independent thinking to counteract conformity pressures.

Supporting this, Janis (1972), who originally described groupthink, points out that promoting open discussions and appointing devil’s advocates can help prevent this phenomenon. Encouraging team members to voice dissent without fear of reprisal enhances critical debate, which can lead to more balanced and effective decisions. Additionally, fostering a culture of continuous questioning and reflection, as Bouygues advocates, aligns with Janis’s recommendations and effectively reduces the risk of groupthink.

Critical thinking and creative thinking are often portrayed as opposites; however, I disagree with this notion. Critical thinking involves logical analysis, evaluation, and judgment, while creative thinking emphasizes generating novel ideas and approaches. Both are essential cognitive processes that complement each other in problem-solving. For example, in product innovation, creative thinking is used to develop new concepts, while critical thinking evaluates their feasibility and practicality. Thus, rather than opposites, they are interconnected skills that, when integrated, enhance decision-making and innovation.

In conclusion, the article provides valuable habits to nurture critical thinking, which aligns with academic principles and practical needs in decision-making. Understanding and preventing groupthink, fostering reflective and questioning habits, and recognizing the interplay between critical and creative thinking are vital for effective problem-solving and decision making in both personal and organizational contexts.

References

• Facione, P. A. (2015). Critical Thinking: What It Is and Why It Counts. Insight Assessment.
• Janis, I. L. (1972). Victims of Groupthink. Houghton Mifflin.
• Paul, R., & Elder, L. (2014). Critical Thinking: Tools for Taking Charge of Your Learning and Your Life. Pearson.
• Bouygues, H. L. (2019). 3 Simple habits to improve your critical thinking. Harvard Business Review.
• Ennis, R. H. (2011). Critical thinking. The Cambridge Handbook of Thinking and Reasoning, 1, 232-259.
• Halpern, D. F. (2014). Thought and Knowledge: An Introduction to Critical Thinking. Psychology Press.
• Lipman, M. (2003). Thinking in Education. Cambridge University Press.
• Norris, S. P. (2011). Towards an adequate analysis of critical thinking. Inquiry: Critical Thinking Across the Disciplines, 26(1), 3-18.
• Siegel, H. (2016). Educating Reason: Rationality, Critical Thinking, and Education. Routledge.
• Wolters, C. A., & Pintrich, P. R. (2013). Perspectives on Motivation and Self-Regulated Learning. Routledge.