A CRITICAL THINKING ASPECT OF SYSTEMS THINKING VERSUS ANALYTICAL THINKING

Abstract There seems to be many definitions of critical thinking in the literature depending upon the discipline if any definition at all. Many scholars never really define what they mean by critical thinking beyond, well... [ view full abstract ]

Abstract

There seems to be many definitions of critical thinking in the literature depending upon the discipline if any definition at all. Many scholars never really define what they mean by critical thinking beyond, well I’ll know it when I see it. In this presentation we take the view that critical thinking has a definition and from that definition a methodology based on systems thinking can be taught and applied in real world situations. We use two models of systems thinking, one from an Operations/Management Science perspective and another from Systems theory perspective (Senge, 1990). We then make the case for a personality component which designates whether one will have an analytical or a systemic approach to problems/issues (Myers & McCaulley, 1985, Quenk, 2009). Looking at a Jung style personality profile as a continuum between ESTJ and INFP we show one end will rely upon analytical thinking (ESTJ) whereas the other end (INFP) will apply a more systemic approach.