Transcript: Apply Critical Thinking
Video Transcript
Early one morning at work, CEO Alice Johnson asks if you have a moment to chat. I need your expertise and advice on a complicated situation for the company regarding an international hacking lawsuit. In her office, Alice explains that CyberTech is serving as the cyber forensics consultant for a law firm handling the suit from a 2015 hack of the Office of Personnel Management, OPM. The OPM hack compromised background information on millions of workers. In a related case Anomalous, a non-US gray hat hacking group suspected in the OPM breach case, is claiming that US-based Equation Set attempted to hack its facilities. So we have a non-US and a US set of test hacker groups involved. With Anomalous, the non-US group, being a client plaintiff in one case against Equation Set, the US group, and as a suspect in the OPM breach. But Alice then outlines why the case is problematic. Along with the OPM victims, CyberTech represents clients from some of the OPM breach suspect companies in unrelated cases, which could appear to be a conflict of interest. This could affect the way our company is perceived by others. We need to maintain our image as an unbiased cyber security consultant. Should CyberTech remain on both the OPM breach investigation and the overseas case at the same time? Or should we drop one of the cases? Apply your critical thinking and analytical skills to figure out what happened what we know and don’t know, and how the company might remedy this situation. I’d like a paper by the end of the week with your recommendations.
Step One
Prepare to Think Critically
In this first step, you will prepare to respond to your boss’s request for an analysis of a problem in your organization. You realize that this will require careful thinking. So, you take time to review the process and to engage in critical thinking and analysis.
When you have completed the critical thinking exercises, you will move on to the next step: identifying the problem.
Critical Thinking and Analysis
First, let’s consider what it means to engage in critical thinking. While the application of critical thinking may vary across disciplines, the steps are universal. Adapted from the writings of Bassham, Irwin, Nardone, and Wallace (2011), Lau (2011), and Lau and Chan (2015), critical thinking involves thinking clearly and systematically, and includes:
- formulating ideas succinctly and precisely
- identifying the relevance and importance of ideas
- understanding the logical connections between ideas
- identifying, constructing, and evaluating arguments, claims, and evidence
- recognizing explicit and implicit assumptions, arguments, and biases
- detecting inconsistencies and common mistakes in reasoning
- formulating clear defensible ideas and conclusions
- evaluating the pros and cons of decisions
- reflecting on one’s own beliefs and values
- applying ethical decision making
References
Bassham, G., Irwin, W., Nardone, H., & Wallace, J. (2011). Critical thinking: A student’s introduction. (4th ed.) New York, NY: The McGraw Hill Companies.
Lau, J. (2011). An introduction to critical thinking and creativity: Think more, think better. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Lau, J., & Chan, J. (2015). What is critical thinking? Retrieved from http://philosophy.hku.hk/think/critical/ct.ph
Step Two
Identify the Problem
Now that you’re prepared to think critically, it’s time to analyze the situation. Remember the direction from your CEO is to analyze the situation and advise on the two lawsuits. Review the video or transcript in Start Here as needed.
A suggested area of focus is to determine if a conflict of interest would exist in handling the two cases that might be related, and advise how to proceed.
Outline the points that you want to make in the first two sections of your paper (introduction, explanation) and draft those sections.
Next, it’s time to analyze the information.
Step Three
Step 3: Analyze the Information
Now that you have some understanding of the nature of the breach and the parties involved, it’s time to gather and analyze information. The problem analysis resources will further aid your analysis and development of the third section of the paper.
Outline the points that you want to make in Section 3: Analysis of the Information of your paper, and draft that section.
In the following step, you will consider other viewpoints, conclusions, and solutions.
Learning Topic
Problem Analysis
Problem analysis involves framing the issue by defining its boundaries, establishing criteria with which to select from alternatives, and developing conclusions based on available information. Analyzing a problem may not result in a decision, although the results are an important ingredient in all decision making.
Another way to consider problem analysis is a process that includes identifying and defining the problem, gathering information about the problem, and deciding if one or a group will begin work to solve the problem. A decision to solve the problem leads to analysis of the problem, in this model, asking the what, why, how, and other basic questions. From this point, the group can revisit the decision to solve and refine any issues (risk, cost, feasibility, for example.)
References
Defining decision making. (n.d.). Boundless Management. Retrieved from https://www.boundless.com/management/textbooks/boundless-management-textbook/decision-making-10/decision-making-in-management-75/defining-decision-making-366-3930/
Nagy, J. (n.d.). Defining and analyzing the problem. Community Toolbox. Retrieved from http://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/analyze/analyze-community-problems-and-solutions/define-analyze-problem/main
Step Four
Step 4: Consider and Analyze Other Viewpoints, Conclusions, and Solutions
Once you have completed your analysis of the incident, the next step is to analyze alternative viewpoints, conclusions, and solutions. To do this, you will need to apply ethical decision-making and reasoning. Also, read the highly recommended Randolph Pherson’s “The Five Habits of the Master Thinker,” a paper written for intelligence analysts, but applicable to all analytical thinking and reasoning.
Outline the points that you want to make in Section 4: Analysis of Alternative Viewpoints, Conclusions, or Solutions of your paper, and draft that section.
When you are finished, move to the next step, which involves developing conclusions.
Learning Topic
Ethical Decision-Making and Reasoning
What are the different viewpoints? There are often different interpretations of the facts. This may be one of the more challenging aspects of critical thinking. You will also employ ethical reasoning and decision-making, carefully considering all points of view and recommendations to maintain a critical thinking mindset.
Ethical Decision-Making and Reasoning Ethical Decision-Making
Ethical Decision Making
Ethical decision making is the process of assessing the moral implications of a course of action.
LEARNING OBJECTIVE
- Identify the elements of decision making that are directly affected by ethical considerations and social expectations
KEY POINTS
- All business decisions have an ethical or moral dimension because they have an effect on stakeholders.
- Ethical decisions cannot be made solely through objective analysis or consideration of data and information, but must rely on judgment and interpretation.
- Making ethical decisions also involves choice about who should be involved in the process and how the decision should be made.
TERMS
- ethic – The study of principles relating to right and wrong conduct.
- cognitive – Of the mental functions that deal with logic, as opposed to affective functions, which deal with emotion.
- decision – A choice or judgment.
Ethics are moral principles that guide a person’s behavior. These morals are shaped by social norms, cultural practices, and religious influences. Ethical decision making is the process of assessing the moral implications of a course of action. All decisions have an ethical or moral dimension for a simple reason—they have an effect on others. Managers and leaders need to be aware of their own ethical and moral beliefs so they can draw on them when they face difficult decisions.
Ethical decisions can involve several determinations. The field of ethics, also known as moral philosophy, shows that there are various ways of systematizing, defending, and recommending concepts of right and wrong conduct. For example, from a consequentialist standpoint, a morally right action is one that produces a good outcome, or consequence. A utilitarian perspective takes the position that the proper course of action is one that maximizes overall happiness.
Most ethical decisions exist in a gray area where there is no clear-cut or obvious decision that can be determined solely through quantitative analysis or consideration of objective data or information. Ethical decision making requires judgment and interpretation, the application of a set of values to a set of perceptions and estimates of the consequences of an action. Sometimes ethical decisions involve choosing not between good and bad, but between good and better or between bad and worse.
Making ethical decisions also involves choice about who should be involved in the process and how the decision should be made. For example, if a decision will have a significant impact on the local community, leaders may feel obligated to invite a representative of the community to participate in discussions. Similarly, decisions with a significant ethical dimension may benefit from being made by consensus rather than by fiat—to demonstrate that the choice is consistent with an organization’s espoused values.
Step Five
Step 5: Develop Well-Reasoned Conclusions
You considered alternative viewpoints in the last step. Now you’re ready to develop personal conclusions and suggest remedies so that your boss is well-equipped to brief leadership about the situation.
Remember, you may need to consult outside references, but this is not a research paper. It is more investigative in nature about the facts of the case. Cite outside sources carefully.
Now, outline your argument and draft Section 5: Conclusions and Recommendations, the final sections. Your boss is expecting to receive a concise, focused paper to prepare for further meetings. Stay to the main points, although you may have more facts to answer any questions. You will submit your paper in the final step.
Step Six
Step 6: Submit the Critical Thinking Paper
The final paper should be no more than five double-spaced pages, excluding the cover page and references page(s). Organize the paper in accordance with your preparatory steps, using these subheadings:
- Introduction
- Explanation of the Issue
- Analysis of the Information
- Consideration of Alternative Viewpoints and Conclusions
- Conclusions and Recommendations
Here are some tips for success:
- Consider outside sources if they inform your case. However, stay on task.
- Use APA style for “in text” and reference citations. At this point, your citations should be error-free.
Consider these best practices for a paper:
- An effective introduction that grabs the reader’s attention and sets the tone and direction for the rest of the paper;
- Supporting paragraphs that move the reader from the general introduction to the more specific aspects of your analysis;
- Body paragraphs that provide support; and,
- A conclusion that leads to a natural close to what you have presented.
Check Your Evaluation Criteria
Before you submit your assignment, review the competencies below, which your instructor will use to evaluate your work. A good practice would be to use each competency as a self-check to confirm you have incorporated all of them. To view the complete grading rubric, click My Tools, select Assignments from the drop-down menu, and then click the project title.
- 1.1: Organize document or presentation clearly in a manner that promotes understanding and meets the requirements of the assignment.
- 1.2: Develop coherent paragraphs or points so that each is internally unified and so that each functions as part of the whole document or presentation.
- 1.4: Tailor communications to the audience.
- 1.5: Use sentence structure appropriate to the task, message and audience.
- 1.6: Follow conventions of Standard Written English.
- 2.1: Identify and clearly explain the issue, question, or problem under critical consideration.
- 2.2: Locate and access sufficient information to investigate the issue or problem.
- 2.4: Consider and analyze information in context to the issue or problem.
- 2.5: Develop well-reasoned ideas, conclusions or decisions, checking them against relevant criteria and benchmarks.