Critical Thinking Ability - Essay Example

Critical thinking involves drawing sound conclusions based on facts and observations. For any organization to succeed, it needs employees who take decisions based on their critical thinking ability. In other words, members can ask significant questions, evaluate the complex information collected, make complex decisions, and above all anticipate the outcome (both positive and negative aspects) of those decisions and based on these decisions take actions.   Ellis said that “Critical thinkers distinguish between fact and opinion; ask questions; make detailed observations; uncover assumptions and define their terms; and make assertions based on sound logic and solid evidence”. -Ellis, D. Becoming a Master Student, 1997. “Critical thinking is best understood as the ability of thinkers to take charge of their thinking. This requires that they develop sound criteria and standards for analyzing and assessing their thinking and routinely use those criteria and standards to improve its quality” (Elder and Paul, 1994).

When organizations use effective critical thinking skills and processes, they draw legitimate conclusions based on perfect evidence and well-supported claims. In an organization, employees are expected to make good decisions. And these decisions need to be based on a methodical and careful examination of all existing information. To take a good decision it is important to ask relevant questions, listen to everyone, compile complex information, involve others, and make use of their expertise in critical decision-making. 

Recently, I got promoted to regional sales manager for a pharmaceutical company. This promotion came to me as a reward for helping my company achieve the set target and also by getting involved in the companies’ decision-making that will determine the future growth of my company. Until the last year, the sales target was only 3 crores but the company put forward a proposal to achieve 50 crores in the next 10 years. Though it looked challenging, I took up the challenge and initiated the planning process.  I made a thorough market survey to find out if such a huge target could be achieved in the next 10 years. I also took feedback from my subordinates and also suggestions from my superiors. Before I put forth the final plan in front of my company, I had to make sure that all my team members were with me and supported my plan. Once I finished with my planning I presented it. I was confident about the success of my plan because every step to be taken was planned out critically. Besides, I also took up a test trial of my plan with a few of the products. It was successful and so I found out that, if I take up the assignment it will not be a difficult task to reach the 50 crores target in the next 10 years. On the final day, I presented my plan with facts from my survey to my directors and I was not surprised at the results. This plan was approved and I was promoted to the Regional Manager’s post in my company. Today, for every decision I take I make use of the basic elements of critical thinking and plan out in advance. To date, I am on my target and I am confident that I can easily reach the company-set target in the next 10 years. 

Every organization takes 100’s of decisions. Decision-making is a procedure followed to identify and evaluate choices. The types of decisions we make are mainly based on our past experiences, sometimes spontaneous, and always supported by reasons. In reality, decision-making and problem-solving have similarities with each other.  When we try to solve problems, the first step is to identify and evaluate solution paths similarly when we take a decision we take the same steps to identify and evaluation of alternatives. Hence it can be said that the main crux of decision-making, then, is the systematic identification and evaluation of alternatives (Cuesta College, 2003).  Making use of the techniques of critical thinking enables us to break down complex problems into simple questions and to understand the inputs and implications of thought processes. I believe that an effective leader is the only one to guide organizations to decisions that are stable and legitimate.  With the help of the tools and techniques of critical thinking leaders in an organization can make decisions that are stable and legitimate.  

Numerous elements bring significant change to business conditions and a stable decision can survive these changes.  A decision that is made based on good reasoning and that is arrived at thoughtfully is more likely to be stable than one arrived at rashly in a hurry.  A leader needs to make clear their decisions. The decisions should be reasonable and reflective, that they are based on good reasons, and arrived at through consistent methods (Hunter, 2005).  Success in an organization depends on the number of employees processing their critical thinking ability.  Read More