now

1. Sponsored in part by the Workforce Development Agency, State of Michigan, Michigan Works!, through your local Workforce Development Board and Muskegon County
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CRITICAL THINKING AND
PROBLEM SOLVING

3. In a recent study,
CRITICAL THINKING
was identified as one of the
most important skills needed
for job success, and
one that is lacking in
the new workforce.
“Are They Ready to Work? Employers Perspective on the Basic Knowledge and Applied Skills of New Entrants to the 21st Century US Workforce”
Conducted by The Conference Board, Partnership for 21st Century Skills, Corporate Voices for Working Families, and Society for Human Resource Management

6. “Critical Thinking is reasonable
reflective thinking focused on
deciding what to believe or do.”
“Critical Thinking is best understood
as the ability of thinkers to take
charge of their own thinking.”

7. Think of going into the dressing room when you’re
shopping. How many times do you twist and twirl
in front of the three-sided mirror before deciding
whether or not to buy?
Critical Thinking is the three-sided mirror of
decision making; letting you look at all the angles
to make the best possible choice.
Another way of looking at it…

8. “With workplaces so
complex and rapidly
changing, combined with
the recession, it’s
important that newly
hired employees have
critical thinking skills.”
By Pearson’s TalentLens Group

9. Like most skills, critical
thinking can be improved!
“Critical thinking is harder than people think,
because it requires knowledge.”
- Joanne Jacobs
“Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is
probably the reason why so few engage in it.”
- Henry Ford

10. THE PROCESS OF CRITICAL THINKING
Critical
Thinking
Inform &
Describe
Discover &
Explore
Negotiate &
Cooperate
Test & Revise
Integrate &
Apply

11. Inform & Describe
• Clarify
• What you need to know
• What you already know
• Information you have about the
issue
THE PROCESS OF CRITICAL THINKING

12. Discover & Explore
• Look at your issue more closely
• Start to be more directed and purposeful in
seeking information
THE PROCESS OF CRITICAL THINKING

13. Negotiate & Cooperate
• Consider different perspectives
• Engage in discussion
THE PROCESS OF CRITICAL THINKING

14. Test & Revise
• Weigh the evidence
• Test out different ideas
THE PROCESS OF CRITICAL THINKING

15. Integrate & Apply
• Bring together various ideas
• Consolidate and articulate new
understandings
THE PROCESS OF CRITICAL THINKING

17. Improving Your Critical Thinking
• Seek out ideas—old and new
• Read books, periodicals, articles, etc.
• Experiment, brainstorm, have
discussions, attend exhibits
• Take action
• Dare to be different!
• Be open minded and flexible
• Apply ideas to every facet of your life
• Always ask, “How can this be done
better?”

18. • Study innovation, change, and creativity
• Be curious and observant
• Look at situation through the eyes of a child
• Keep asking, “why”
• Ask good questions
• Constantly reflect on each aspect
• Who, what, where, when, why, how, if, etc.
Improving Your Critical Thinking

19. • Develop your reflective thinking skills
• Daydream about the situation
• Jump between logical, imaginative, and wild
thinking
• Build your knowledge and intuition base
• Learn how to research and visualize
• Use triggers
• Find the time and place that help you think best
Improving Your Critical Thinking

20. • Focus on the most relevant information
• Ask the right questions
• Separate facts from opinions and
assumptions
• Make sound decisions
• Set priorities
• Learn quickly
• Apply what they learn to new situations
Good Critical Thinkers:

21. Problem
Solving
There is a difference between Critical Thinking
and Problem Solving.
Critical Thinking is an intentional and reflective
way of looking at things or circumstances, while
Problem Solving focuses on a specific situation.

22. Let’s face it!
In the business world, we will always have
problems that need to be solved.

23. Any question or matter involving
doubt, uncertainty, or difficulty.
A matter about which it is difficult to
decide what to do.
But first…what exactly is a problem?
Any negative situation, issue, or matter that is unresolved.

24. “Problem Solving is a mental process
that involves discovering, analyzing,
and solving problems to overcome
obstacles and find a solution that
best resolves the issue.”
“Don’t find fault…find a remedy!”
- Henry Ford
“Problems are only
opportunities in work clothes.”
- Henri Kaiser

26. The Decision Making Process
1
2
3
4
5
6

27. The Decision Making Process
1
• Try and figure out
exactly what your
problem is, and write a
problem statement
• It helps to think of
what you have but
don’t want, or
what you want but
don’t have
2
• Brainstorm all possible
causes of the problem
• Attempt to get to the
very root cause
• Use your inner
child; keep asking
“why?”
3
• Once you’ve found the
cause, think of all
possible solutions

28. The Decision Making Process
• Using your list of
possible solutions,
evaluate all the
possible consequences
of each solution
• Choose the best
solution based on what
is most practical
• Look at
effectiveness
• How much risk
does the proposed
solution carry?
• Does it fit within
your budget?
• Always check back to
see how your solution
is working,
• Revise your plans as
needed
4 5 6

29. Decision Making
Checklist
 Do I have all the information I need?
 Have I considered all possible solutions?
 Will my decision help me meet my goals?

30.  Does it violate any of my values?
 Have I considered all the consequences?
 Can I live with the consequences?
Decision Making
Checklist

31. LEARNING FROM YOUR
DECISIONS:
Think about:
• What went well?
• What did not go well?
• What could be done differently?

32. “You are free to choose, but the choices
you make today will determine what you
will have, be and do in the tomorrow of
your life.”
—Zig Ziglar

33. Final Thoughts
• Be objective—think critically
• Use your tools
• Think both short-term and long-term
• Check with others when decisions may affect them
• Stay focused
• Use your values and
goals as a compass

34. “Education is not the learning of facts,
but the training of the mind to think.”
-Albert Einstein

35. We hope you found this information
helpful. Check us out at
www.miworksmo.org.
• Give us any
questions/comments/concerns
• See our workshop schedule
• Learn more about Michigan Works!
Muskegon-Oceana
Like what you saw?

36. Sources Cited:
Goodwill Industries International, Inc.
Critical Thinking
Developing Your Decision Making Skills
Published: December 2009
Critical-Thinkers.com
Things That Make You Think: Critical
Thinking Quotes
By Breanne Harris, Sept. 20, 2010
Mysuperchargedlife.com
Making Positive Choices: Ideas and
Thoughts about Forming Good Habits
for a Good Life – Jeff, Jan. 22, 2010
About.com
What is Problem-Solving?
By Kendra Cherry
Leadershipnow.com
Leading Thoughts
Quotes on Problem Solving