Critical and Scientific Thinking in the Organization - Assignment Example

Innovation Name Instructor Course Date Question 1 An innovator is an individual or an organization who is responsible for first to introduce into reality something superior to before. The idea often leads to a new area for other individuals and results into an innovation. An achieved innovation in this sense is an idea that must be applied at a cost-effective cost and must fulfill a specific need. The process of innovation involves deliberate application of information, initiative, and imagination in deriving different or greater values from resources, and includes all the processes through which new ideas are developed and converted into useful products. Thus, an innovator must imagine, initiate, and apply information to achieve a goal. An example of an innovator is Thomas Edison who is credited with various innovations. Among these innovations are the practically commercial light bulbs. It is noteworthy that Edison did not discover the electric bulb, but rather developed the first commercial, light bulb. The earlier inventors had discovered and developed light bulbs, but these earlier light bulbs were commercially impractical light bulbs. Some of these previous light bulbs had flaws that included an extremely short life, high electric current drawn, and high production expenses this, in turn, resulted in difficulty, in the application of these bulbs in large-scale production for commercial purposes. This development by Edison, therefore, can be termed an innovation since it advances a previous idea. Question 2 Evolution is incremental and implies that takes place gradually and over a long period. This change occurs to ensure the survival of a concept idea or organization and is often because of pressure. On the other hand, revolution implies a profound transformation that includes an overhaul reconstruction and renovation of a concept idea or an organization. A revolution occurs from the desire to stay ahead and involves radical changes that are irreversible and a result of human action. In his perspective, therefore, it is imperative to note that innovation connotes revolution and not evolution. An example of revolutions the development of static electricity while evolution can be exemplified by computer data storage components. Transformation is a process of radical and profound changes that turns an idea, concept, or organization in a new course and changes its level of effectiveness. Transformation infers a basic change of character and results in little or no similarity with the previous setup. On the contrary, discontinuous change suggests a non-incremental and sudden change that drastically alters the current position and introduces such changes. From the definition of innovation, it is clear that innovation results in discontinuous change and not a transformation. A paradigm change is a substantial modification in the manner of thinking about things or how to do these things. An instance of paradigm change is the growth of the Internet, which has occasioned significant changes in the manner people obtain information. An example of transformation is the transformation by British airways as a result of low cost airlines while an instance of discontinuous change is seen in the IBMs development of the personal computer. Question 3 Scientific thinking involves trying to comprehend reality by breaking it down into constituent parts, and then reviewing the performance of those parts. It involves the employment of a huge range of tentative tools and methods to study reality. Reductionism has been the foundation of probably many scientific fields and has resulted in an impressive range of technologies and discoveries. Its essence lies in the element that removing all the other stuff that make up a phenomenon permits an individual to get back to proximal connection resulting in a small part of the spectacle. The level of regulation involved in understanding the phenomena in this approach infers that technology emanates from the scientific study. An example as a result of this case is understanding the automobile since it can be broken down into various parts. On the contrary, systems thinking implies that instead of breaking down the focus should be placed on the connections and flows of things between different parts. This idea follows a synthetic method than an analytical approach. This approach tends to be more hypothetical in nature, and majorly focuses on scheming computational and mathematical models of the phenomena in order to establish unusual behaviors developing in the system as a whole. It compares between the models and natural structures to establish how well the model illuminates the observations. This approach has led to new methods of thinking about things. Systems thinking can be exemplified by project management, which uses systems thinking to plan, organize, motivate, and control resources in order to achieve specified goals. Question 4 Critical thinking is an intellectually disciplined procedure involving dynamic and skillful conceptualization, application analysis, synthesis, and evaluation of information gathered, or generated through reflection observation, reasoning, experience, or communication, in guiding belief and action. Critical thinking is based on general intellectual principles that exceed subject matter divisions. Critical thinking focuses on precision clarity, good reasons, consistency, accuracy, breadth, depth, relevance, sound evidence, and fairness. Critical thinking, therefore, is a mode of thinking on any content, subject, or problem where the thinker expands the quality of thinking of taking skillful charge of the arrangements essential in thinking and placing intellectual standards upon them. Normal thinking, on the other hand, is subject to bias distortion, impartial, uninformed ideas, and prejudice. The downside of critical thinking is that there are risks of undermining those in authority, which could negatively affect such individuals and this is an instance where critical thinking should not be used. Additionally, critical thinking should not be employed where other forms of thinking such as intuitive thinking or creative thinking are necessary, and critical thinking can undermine these. This situation would be a shortcoming because creative thinking, aims to produce invention and innovation. Question 5 Doing the right things means aligning objectives with the overall plan, strategy, or direction of an individual, organization, or team. The primary objective in doing the right thing is delivered as per the requirements. The activities outlined in a project plan, or strategy should be based on how the activities are associated with the distinct objectives. Doing the right things also aims at advancing goals and strategies outlined by the individual or organization. Similarly, doing things right translates to delivering quality work in whatever individuals do. In ensuring things are done right, individuals need to provide to at least our customer’s requirements, if not more. Doing things right provides that meeting the requirements is difficult but exceeding these requirements is energizing and exceptional. Doing the right thing and doing things right can be put together to result in doing the right things right. This concept creates an influential way of reasoning about an individual's actions or work. This concept can be broken down to what individuals do and how they do them. Both these ideas are crucial in progress with initiatives in a purposeful, positive, and productive manner. Putting these two concepts together, therefore, translates to effectiveness and efficiency. Read More