Using topics of critical and creative thinking, Critical Thinking, Idea Innovation, and Creativity discusses methods of solving complex problems, demonstrates the benefits of using the methods of imaginative thinking, identifies ways to overcome problems and inhibitors such as a lack of confidence, provides guidelines for assessing creative experiences, and encourages the application of the methods to leadership, research, and decision making. It allows readers to turn their unidimensional technical knowledge into a multi-dimensional knowledge framework that will provide a broader and more realistic framework for the solution of complex problems. Emphasis is placed on the fundamental concepts of critical and creative thinking and idea innovation, and each chapter presents numerous activities to accompany the knowledge-based educational material provided.
Features:
- Provides educational material on creativity in a format that stresses application. An array of creative thinking tools will enable the reader to develop imaginative ideas
- Emphasizes ways that critical thinking, idea innovation, and creativity can enhance a reader’s ability to solve problems related to leadership, the conduct of research, making decisions, and solving complex problems
- Focuses on ways to improve the reader’s thinking skills, which will enhance the likelihood of developing novel solutions to complex problems; this skill set includes skills like curiosity, questioning, and skepticism, which are central to efficiently solving complex problems and meeting the requirements of effective leadership
- Includes numerous activities in each chapter that will enable readers to apply the methods and develop actual experience at critical and creative thinking; these activities are appropriate for use either by individuals or by small groups
Author(s): Richard H. McCuen
Edition: 1
Publisher: CRC Press
Year: 2023
Language: English
Pages: 332
City: Boca Raton, FL
Tags: Creative Thinking; Critical Thinking; Problem Solving
Cover
Half Title
Title Page
Copyright Page
Table of Contents
Preface
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Chapter 1 Introduction
1.1 Introduction
1.2 What is Critical Thinking?
1.3 The Influence of Myths
1.4 Critical Thinking in Problem-Solving
1.5 Simple and Complex Problems: Definitions
1.6 Concluding Comments
1.7 Exercises
1.8 Activities
Chapter 2 Processes for Problem-Solving
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Definition of Problem-Solving Efficiency
2.3 The Scientific Method
2.4 A Model of the Research Process
2.5 The Decision Process
2.6 The Design Process
2.7 The Modeling Process
2.8 Innovation: Definition and Process
2.9 The Creative Thinking Process
2.10 The Critical Problem-Solving Process
2.11 de Bono’s Model of Thinking
2.12 The Intellectual Development Model
2.13 Concluding Comments
2.14 Exercises
2.15 Activities
Chapter 3 Fundamentals of Imaginative Idea Generation
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Brainstorming
3.3 Brainwriting: Individual Brainstorming
3.4 Pictostorming (A.K.A., Sketchstorming)
3.5 Brain Diagramming
3.6 Concluding Comments
3.7 Exercises
3.8 Activities
Chapter 4 Synectics: Analogical Brainstorming
4.1 Introduction
4.2 The Synectics Procedure
4.3 Development of a Synectics Topic
4.4 Role of the Facilitator
4.5 Advantages of Synectics
4.6 Individual Synectics
4.7 Overt Synectics
4.8 Concluding Comments
4.9 Exercises
4.10 Activities
Chapter 5 The Delphi Method
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Definitions
5.3 The Delphi Method Procedure
5.4 Facilitating a Delphi Session
5.5 Decision-Making with the Delphi Method
5.6 Advantages and Disadvantages of the Delphi Method
5.7 Use of the Delphi Method for Problem-Solving
5.8 Concluding Comments
5.9 Exercises
5.10 Activities
Chapter 6 Checklist Development and Applications
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Definition of a Checklist
6.3 Examples of Checklists
6.4 Application of a Checklist
6.5 Development of a Checklist
6.6 Concluding Comments
6.7 Exercises
6.8 Activities
Chapter 7 Inhibitors of Creativity and Innovation
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Definitions
7.3 Effects of Inhibitors on Efficiency
7.4 Creativity Inhibitors: Organizational
7.5 Creative Inhibitors: Associates
7.6 Creativity Inhibitors: Oneself
7.7 Pessimism: A Mindset Inhibitor
7.8 Effects of Inhibitors on Values
7.9 Concluding Comments
7.10 Exercises
7.11 Activities
Chapter 8 Assessment of Critical Thinking Activities
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Definitions
8.3 Assessment Criteria and Relations with Critical Thinking
8.4 Assessment of Idea Generation Sessions
8.5 Development of Assessment Reports
8.6 The Role of Values in Assessments
8.7 Concluding Comments
8.8 Exercises
8.9 Activities
Chapter 9 A New Perspective on Critical Thinking
9.1 Introduction
9.2 Introduction to Critical Thinking
9.3 Critical Thinking versus Creative Thinking
9.4 A Framework for Critical Thinking
9.5 Critical Analysis and Synthesis
9.6 Fundamental Characteristics of a Critical Thinker
9.7 Problem Complexity and Critical Thinking
9.8 Knowledge Requirements of Critical Thinkers
9.9 Problem Characteristics and Critical Thinker Needs
9.10 Improving Characteristics Needed for Critical Thinking
9.11 Development of Critical Thinking Abilities
9.12 The Influence of Experience
9.13 The Advancement of Critical Thinking Ability
9.14 Assessment of Critical Problem-Solving
9.15 Concluding Comments
9.16 Exercises
9.17 Activities
Chapter 10 The Skill Dimension of Critical Problem-Solving
10.1 Introduction
10.2 Definitions
10.3 Outline of a Skill Model
10.4 Primary Skill: Courage
10.5 Primary Skill: Perception
10.6 Primary Skill: Skepticism
10.7 Primary Skill: Critiquing
10.8 Primary Skill: Questioning
10.9 Primary Skill: Curiosity
10.10 Primary Skill: Emergence
10.11 Primary Skill: Consequence
10.12 Auxiliary Skill: Self-Confidence
10.13 Auxiliary Skill: Self-Discipline
10.14 Auxiliary Skill: Persistence
10.15 Auxiliary Skill: Flexibility
10.16 Application of the Intellectual Development (ID) Model
10.17 Assessing the Competency of the Skill Dimension
10.18 Skill Set Efficiency and Effectiveness
10.19 Iterative Questioning
10.20 Concluding Comments
10.21 Exercises
10.22 Activities
Chapter 11 The Value Dimension of Critical Problem-Solving
11.1 Introduction
11.2 Critical Thinking: The Value Dimension
11.3 The Origin and Changing of Values
11.4 Organizational Value Systems
11.5 Balancing Values in an Uncertain World
11.6 Application of the Intellectual Development (ID) Model
11.7 Assessing the Competency of the Value Dimension
11.8 The Experiences-Values-Beliefs Model
11.9 Concluding Comments
11.10 Exercises
11.11 Activities
Chapter 12 The Mindset Dimension of Critical Problem-Solving
12.1 Introduction
12.2 Introduction to the Mindset Dimension
12.3 Definitions
12.4 Mindset and Control Issues
12.5 Mindset and Decision-Making
12.6 Application of the Intellectual Development (ID) Model
12.7 Assessing the Competency of the Mindset Dimension
12.8 Self-Discipline: A Mindset Characteristic
12.9 Procrastination: A Mindset Constraint
12.10 Pessimism: A Mindset Constraint
12.11 Assessment of Counter-Skill Activities
12.12 Concluding Comments
12.13 Exercises
12.14 Activities
Chapter 13 The Thinking Dimension of Critical Problem-Solving
13.1 Introduction
13.2 Types of Thinking
13.3 Thinking Type versus Characteristics
13.4 Logical Thinking
13.5 A Perspective on Lateral Thinking
13.6 Divergent-Convergent Thinking
13.7 Divergent Thinking
13.8 Convergent Thinking
13.9 Stochastic Thinking
13.10 Counterfactual Thinking
13.11 Upward-Downward Thinking
13.12 Application of the Intellectual Development (ID) Model
13.13 Assessing the Competency of the Four Dimensions
13.14 Concluding Comments
13.15 Exercises
13.16 Activities
Chapter 14 Leadership of Critical Problem-Solving
14.1 Introduction
14.2 Organizational Creativity
14.3 Organizational Inhibitors
14.4 Leadership and Values
14.5 Leadership and Thinking Type
14.6 Organizational Mindset and Leadership
14.7 Mindset Contrast: Optimism versus Pessimism
14.8 Leadership Applications of Critical Thinking
14.9 Leadership and Subordinate Confidence
14.10 Leadership and Stress Management
14.11 Professional Benefits of Creative Humor
14.12 Concluding Comments
14.13 Exercises
14.14 Activities
Chapter 15 Critical Thinking: Applications to Research
15.1 Introduction
15.2 Research Planning
15.3 A Model of the Research Process
15.4 Methods of Identifying New Research Topics
15.5 Critical Analysis in Research
15.6 Characteristics Relevant to Critical Thinking
15.7 A Mindset for Conducting Research
15.8 Assessment Using the Intellectual Development Model
15.9 Values in Research
15.10 Self-Confidence in the Conduct of Research
15.11 Critical Thinking and Research Efficiency
15.12 Research Assessment
15.13 Concluding Comments
15.14 Exercises
15.15 Activities
Chapter 16 Critical Decision-Making
16.1 Introduction
16.2 The Decision Process
16.3 Critical Time Management
16.4 The Assessment of Decision Failures
16.5 Decision-Making Inhibitors
16.6 Mindset and Decision-Making
16.7 Values in Decision-Making
16.8 A Skill Set for Decision-Making
16.9 Concluding Comments
16.10 Exercises
16.11 Activities
Chapter 17 Introspective Idea Innovation
17.1 Introduction
17.2 Definitions
17.3 Phases of the I[sup(3)] Method
17.4 Skills Essential for I[sup(3)] Applications
17.5 Conducting Phase I of I[sup(3)]
17.6 Use of I[sup(3)] for Model Development
17.7 Concluding Comments
17.8 Exercises
17.9 Activities
Chapter 18 Conclusions
18.1 Introduction
18.2 The Universal Dimensions
18.3 Attitudes and Abilities of Critical Thinkers
18.4 Learning Outcomes
18.5 Postscript
Index
