Critical Thinking
In the book “Asking the Right Questions, A Guide to Critical Thinking” M. Neil Browne and Stuart M. Kelley discuss the ten steps to critical thinking. In the following pages I will apply these steps to a memo that was sent to Mr. Robert Shaw of Triad Insurance Company of Indianapolis and discuss them in detail. The memo was from Ms. Denise Khali, Vice President of Human Resources. D. Khali, personal communication, October 04, 2010.
Step 1: What are the issues and conclusions?
The major issue discussed in the memo is that Ms. Khali does not agree with the training ideas that have been presented by Mr. Clarke, Director of Operations. She goes into detail in her memo discussing the reasons why she feels the training program is inappropriate. These various reasons will be highlighted in Step 2.
Ms. Khali’s conclusion is discussed in her final paragraph of the memo. She states that the training program will be ineffective and costly. She also concludes throughout her memo that the company already has successful leaders and therefore the training program is unnecessary.
Step 2: What are the reasons?
Ms. Khali gives several reasons for her having an issue with the training program that is being requested by Mr. Clarke. Her reasons pertain more to why the company is already successful without a training program. The memo states that the company has been successful without a training program. She further demonstrates this fact by stating the company has been in business for 50 years with a growth rate of 12% annum. The memo also brings to light that none of the current twelve senior executives has been to a training program.
Step 3: What words or phrases are ambiguous?
Throughout the memo there are several phrases and terms that are ambiguous. Ms. Khali states in her memo “Two well-respected research studies that support the notion that personality traits can predict leadership were published in the Journal of Applied Psychology
Step 1: What are the issues and conclusions?
The major issue discussed in the memo is that Ms. Khali does not agree with the training ideas that have been presented by Mr. Clarke, Director of Operations. She goes into detail in her memo discussing the reasons why she feels the training program is inappropriate. These various reasons will be highlighted in Step 2.
Ms. Khali’s conclusion is discussed in her final paragraph of the memo. She states that the training program will be ineffective and costly. She also concludes throughout her memo that the company already has successful leaders and therefore the training program is unnecessary.
Step 2: What are the reasons?
Ms. Khali gives several reasons for her having an issue with the training program that is being requested by Mr. Clarke. Her reasons pertain more to why the company is already successful without a training program. The memo states that the company has been successful without a training program. She further demonstrates this fact by stating the company has been in business for 50 years with a growth rate of 12% annum. The memo also brings to light that none of the current twelve senior executives has been to a training program.
Step 3: What words or phrases are ambiguous?
Throughout the memo there are several phrases and terms that are ambiguous. Ms. Khali states in her memo “Two well-respected research studies that support the notion that personality traits can predict leadership were published in the Journal of Applied Psychology
References: M. Neil Browne & Stuart M. Keeley (2010) “Asking the right Questions, A Guide to Critical Thinking”