Introduction
In the first week you are introduced to critical thinking and managerial decision-making at a conceptual level. This information will provide you with insight into the many different ways critical thinking and decision-making can be approached in life in general and in a business context.
It should be a minimum of 1500 words. Two points will be deducted for the essays that are 10% +/- 1500 words.
To successfully complete this assessment task students should answer the following reflective essay question:
Identify two significant or important concepts from each weeks learnings. Explain why the concepts are important or significant to you.
You should also explain what you learned about yourself by utilising the Reflect tool.
It will be very important for you to explain how the course allowed you to better understand yourself, and your skills and how to improve them. Likewise, it will be very important for you to explain how the course allowed you to understand how new knowledge is developed and/or challenged.
You should tie all your arguments/insights together at the end of your paper, highlighting how you think you will be able to use your learnings in your future career and in life generally.
Task Description:
The objective of this reflective essay is to summarize what you learned from the course, what you learned from keeping a video diary each week, and how you believe your learnings could be applied by you in your future career and in your life generally.
Week one learning objectives
To identify and understand the key terms and concepts with the view to provide a framework for learning for the rest of the term.
To describe and illustrate the requirements for the first assessment item, which is due in week 3 (Please read the attached article Enhancing Critical Thinking by Teaching Two Distinct Approaches to Management. You will need to click on the green PDF file to download the complete article. This article is to be used for instructional purposes only and cannot be used for the first assessment).
Videos
Yes MinisterLeading Questions - Yes Prime Minister.wmv
Apollo 13Failure is not an option.wmv
Apollo 13Failure is not an option, longer version on Youtube
Beautiful MindA Beautiful Mind - Nash equilibria vs Adam Smiths theory !.wmv
Lectures/Workshops
tutorial Activities 1
Food for thought
Extract from a Rational Manager File
Week One Powerpoint Slides PDF File
Assessment 1: Practical and Written Assessment-Critically Evaluating Information
What was the topic of this article?
Based upon the article what do we know about the topic of the article?
Based upon the article is there a gap in the literature or some new development that needs to be explained?
How was the research conducted?
What were the findings?
What are the implications of the article for management practice?
What is your over all evaluation of the articles effectiveness and credibility?
Video 1: Leading questions
What do we learn from this video?
Do you think that the public/consumers are often misled like this?
Get into groups of 3 to 4 and discuss for 10 minutes.
Be prepared to share your ideas with the rest of the class via a class-wide discussion.
Video 2: Failure is not an Option
What do we learn from this video?
About complex/urgent problems
Groups solving problems
Defining the boundaries of the problem
Speaking up
Stay in your groups of 3 to 4 and discuss for 10 minutes.
Be prepared to share your ideas with the rest of the class via a class-wide discussion.
Video 3: A Beautiful Mind
What did we learn about this video?
Why was Adam Smith wrong and what is the big deal?
How is cooperation as a concept important to businesses and other organisations?
What else?
Stay in your groups of 3 to 4 and discuss for 10 minutes.
Be prepared to share your ideas with the rest of the class via a class-wide discussion.
Introduction
Students are introduced to the idea that one needs to understand one's own framing approach for problem solving, including to what extent one is prone to impose preferences, slanted views or cognitive biases on problems of a certain type. Likewise, students learn that about the reasons why it is important to understand the parameters of a problem.
Readings
Textbook
Think SmarterKallet, M. 2014. Section II: Clarity. Think Smarter: Critical thinking to improve problem-solving and decision-making skills. Wiley: New Jersey.
Videos
Riddle of happinessDaniel Kahneman: The riddle of happiness.
Thinking fast slowDaniel Kahneman: Thinking Fast and Slow.
Thinking fast slowShorter, animated version
Lectures/Workshops
Week 2: Workshop slides File
Week Two Power Point Slides File
Week Two PowerPoint Slides PDF File
Week 2:Introduction
Students are introduced to the idea that one needs to understand one's own framing approach for problem solving, including to what extent one is prone to impose preferences, slanted views or cognitive biases on problems of a certain type. Likewise, students learn that about the reasons why it is important to understand the parameters of a problem.
Readings
Textbook
Think SmarterKallet, M. 2014. Section II: Clarity. Think Smarter: Critical thinking to improve problem-solving and decision-making skills. Wiley: New Jersey.
Videos
Riddle of happinessDaniel Kahneman: The riddle of happiness.
Thinking fast slowDaniel Kahneman: Thinking Fast and Slow.
Thinking fast slowShorter, animated version
Lectures/Workshops
Week 2: Workshop slides File
Week Two Power Point Slides File
Week Two PowerPoint Slides PDF File
Problem Analysis
Problems can be categorised into two types:
1. Current deviation from expected performance;
2. Performance has failed to meet expectations
Problem Analysis Process
Problem Analysis can be structured into the following major categories:
1. Defining the problem - developing the deviation statement;
2. Describing the problem in four dimensions: (a) Identity - what it is that we are trying to explain; (b) Location - where we observe it; (c) Timing - when it occurs; and (d) Magnitude - how serious; how extensive is it
3. Obtaining key information in the above four dimensions to generate possible causes;
4. Testing the most probable cause;
5. Verification of the true cause
Week 3:Introduction
Students are introduced to the many ways information can be sourced, disseminated, knowledge managed/transferred and used or even manipulated.
Videos
Thank you for smokingThank you for Smoking - Trailer.wmv
Virtual revolutionThe Virtual Revolution
Lorenzo OilFather non-scientist who found the solution by examining and critically analysing.
Lectures/Workshops
Week 3: Lecture slides File
Week 3: Workshop slides File
Week 3: Who is Elizabeth? File
Food for thought
Media Watch on wind farms URL
Catalyst Recycling buildings story URL
Folklore campaigning URL
- In one of the backward states there's a bitter political fight going on, where one of the candidates is stirring up hatred for his rival this way:
"Ladies and gentlemen," he says, "my opponent has stooped to such low tactics that I must reveal to you that he is, secretly, an EXTROVERT. Not only that but he practices HUMANISM! But the worst thing is this, much as I hesitate to say it: His wife was once a THESPIAN in Greenwich Village."
What to do about dirty mobile phones?
Scenario:
You are on the Board of Directors of a hospital and a research study just profiled by the ABC identifies that mobile phones in hospitals can carry deadly strains of bacteria.
Using the 10 clarity tools, how would you lead the discussion about how this problem might need to be addressed by management at the hospital?
Your group's findings?
How did you define the parameters of the problem?
What influenced your thinking?
What else do you need to know?
What are the implications of your findings in regard to other potential contaminant problems?
Was clarity of the problem achieved?
What trends are revealed?
After examining the table about the top firms by market capitalisation in the US in 1990 and 2010 what might you identify as a trend?
Why might these trends be important to understand?
If a student
A funds manager
A manager at Coca Cola
Someone interested in sustainable energy
Week 4:
Introduction
Students have highlighted for them why an understanding of self is a first step to effective critical thinking and managerial decision-making. Students are encouraged to take self-diagnostic tests and to think more introspectively to develop enhanced thinking and decision-making skills for the future.
Videos
The Science of Personality.
Science of personality
A primer on positive psychology.
Seligman
Lectures/Workshops
Week 4: Lecture slides File
Week 4: Workshop slides File
Scenario
It is very early morning and you are the only person on the train platform except for one other person (the woman who's picture is in the previous slide).
An announcement comes up on the screen saying that there has been a derailment and all morning trains going into the city will be cancelled.
You then hear an announcement that alternative transport will be arranged but it is unlikely to arrive for another hour.
You decide you are better off returning home to pick up your car and drive into the city instead.
You only live 2 minutes from the train station.
Just as you are leaving, the lady on the platform comes up to you and says "Did I hear right, it will be another hour before we can get into the city?..... I have somewhere important to be."
You explain that what she heard is true.
Although the woman who spoke to you seems nice enough, she looks a little agitated to you and doesn't look like she has slept for quite awhile.
She is also carrying a very old brief case and seemed to be reading something with a rather odd title on it, "The Secrets to the Fountain of Youth."
Question
What do you do next?
Do you offer to give Elizabeth a ride into the city once you pick up your car?
Or do you think this woman who tells you her name is Elizabeth could be very needy and/or has mental problems and ends up making you very late for your own appointments? Thus, you don't even consider offering her a lift in your car.
Discuss what you would do with your team mates and explain why?
Week 5:
Introduction
Students are introduced to the idea that complex problems and/or conundrums require a special kind of approach to thinking. Likewise, they are introduced to the idea that many tools (qualitative and quantitative) are available to help them solve difficult problems with the view to make justifiable and/or optimizing decisions as managers.
Videos
13 Days13 days in October 1962.wmv
DilbertDilbert Prisoners Dilemma.wmv
Think AgainWhy good leaders make bad decisions.
Lectures/Workshops
Week 5 Lecture Slides File
Week 5 PowerPoint Slides PDF File
Workshop Week 5 File
Example DISC Profile
Outline
Important points about the course, your progress
Student presentations
Conclusions and Innovation
Decisions and the context
Interpreting your DISC results
Introduction to self-reflection essay
Conclusions and Innovation
Week 6:
Introduction
Students are introduced to the idea that though rational thinking is normally associated with good decision-making, the process of identifying effective decisions will be impeded if one does not appreciate that people are "boundedly rational" and that emotions colour all decisions and have to be factored.
Videos
Other peoples moneyOther Peoples Money speech by Danny DeVito.wmv
Dan ArielyAre we in control of our own decisions?
Risky BusinessRisky Business from Catalyst ABC.
Lectures/Workshops
Week 6 Lecture Slides File
Week 6 Workshop Slides File
How would you ensure each debater in your team could speak for?
How would you consider the roles of each speaker?
They are different for a reason.....
How do the roles affect the structure of the arguments?
Preparation? How much?
Week 7:
Introduction
Students have highlighted for them once again that there is a difference between the concepts risk and uncertainty, and that it is still possible to make decisions when information is missing, there are serious trade-offs or there is chaos, confusion or serious time constraints.
Videos
WujicHow do you make toast?
Stiglitz explaining the GFC.
Lectures/Workshops
The Right Game to Play File
Week 7 Lecture Slides File
Week 7 Workshop Slides File
Exercise
Get into groups and discuss the following three topics:
Reality TV does more harm than good.
Bribery is sometimes acceptable.
University lecturers should not be required to use social networking to help deliver learnings to students.
In your groups, think of one argument for and one argument against each of these topics.
Be prepared to share your ideas with the whole class.
Week 8:
Introduction
Students are introduced to the idea that the masses can be a source of wisdom. They are also introduced to the idea that decisions are also coloured by the nature of the contract, including the psychological contract we perceive to exist between ourselves and others, and with whole organisations.
Videos
Daniel Goleman Explains Emotional Intelligence.wmv
Up in the Air
You Think This Has Nothing to Do With You (The Devil Wears Prada).wmv
Lectures/Workshops
Week 8 Lecture Slides File
Week 8 Workshop Slides File
Week 9:
Introduction
Students have reinforced that the best ideas and decisions are often the product of teamwork and team decision-making processes.
Videos
Disruptive power of collaboration.
Building great teams. HBR webinar.
Lectures/Workshops
Week Nine PowerPoint Slides File
VW capability framework File
Formal debating information (slides) File
Another perspective on personality tests FileOutline
Today's focus is on identifying frameworks to identify a bases by which a group of managers can make decisions
Highly experiential:
VW capability investment framework
Operational risk framework ISO31000
Additional Information
You can choose 2 significant or important concepts per week to write about from any of the material provided in class or on Moodle.
There have been 9 weeks of formal classes. The content of each week's lecture has been/will be:
1. Definition of Critical Thinking including types of critical thinking
2. Ways to achieve clarity & Prospect Theory
3. Deductive & inductive thinking; reaching conclusions
4. Self-awareness; DISC questionnaire & results
5. Making decisions Pt 1 including out of the box thinking
6. Making decisions Pt 2 including who makes decisions in organisations
7. Making decisions Pt 3 including different decision-making styles (with Game Theory on Moodle slides)
8. Psychological contracts
9. Risk in decision making.
But in addition to the lecture content, you can choose ideas from the Text book, from the video clips provided on Moodle, from the journal articles, from the presentations by your fellow students, from the workshop exercises we did in in class. The most important point is that you cover 18 various ideas and concepts.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/3tbuz0twob9cnk0/Assignment%20Information.rar?dl=0