Module 8: Discussion Forum Strategic Thinking and Creativity
ANSWER
The connection between strategic thinking and creativity, as discussed in Beard (2015) and Paul and Elder (2012), lies in the ability to think outside the box and generate innovative solutions to complex problems. Strategic thinking involves the ability to analyze situations, anticipate future challenges, and devise effective plans and actions. Creativity, on the other hand, is the capacity to generate novel ideas and approaches. When combined, these two concepts can lead to innovative strategies that can help organizations address contemporary challenges.
Paul and Elder (2012) highlight barriers to critical thinking, which can also be applied to strategic thinking. Some of these barriers include egocentric thinking, irrational emotions, and social pressures. In the workplace, these barriers can manifest as resistance to change, groupthink, and a reluctance to consider unconventional ideas.
To overcome these barriers and promote both strategic thinking and creativity, organizations can take practical steps such as:
- Promoting a culture of openness: Encourage employees to share their ideas and perspectives without fear of criticism or judgment. This fosters creativity and allows for diverse viewpoints in strategic planning.
- Diverse teams: As La Ferla (2005) suggests, competition can stimulate creativity. By assembling teams with diverse backgrounds and experiences, organizations can harness the creative potential of healthy competition.
- Training and development: Provide training programs that focus on critical thinking, creative problem-solving, and strategic planning. This equips employees with the skills necessary to overcome barriers to strategic thinking.
- Regular brainstorming sessions: Schedule regular brainstorming sessions where employees can freely explore new ideas and innovative approaches to current challenges.
- Feedback and evaluation: Establish a feedback mechanism that allows employees to evaluate and refine strategic plans. Constructive feedback helps in continuous improvement.
In summary, strategic thinking and creativity are interconnected in the sense that they both contribute to innovative problem-solving. Overcoming barriers to strategic thinking in the workplace requires fostering a culture of openness, diversity, and continuous improvement. These efforts can lead to more effective strategic planning and better outcomes for organizations.
QUESTION
Description
References
Beard, K. (2015). Theoretically speaking: An interview with Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi on flow theory development and its usefulness in addressing contemporary challenges in education. Educational Psychology Review, 27(2), 353-364. doi:10.1007/s10648-014-9291-1.
La Ferla, B. (2005). Competition and creativity. Engineering Management Journal, 15(5), 1.
Lau, J., & Chan, J. (2017). Strategic analysis. Retrieved from http://philosophy.hku.hk/think/strategy/Module Outcomes
Maloney, D. H. (2010). Solving problems that count. Educational Leadership, 68(1), 55-58.
Paul, R., & Elder, L. (2012). Critical thinking: Tools for taking charge of your learning and your life (3rd ed.).Boston, MA: Pearson.
Wilkinson, A., & Kupers, R. (2013). Living in the futures. Harvard Business Review, 91(5), 118-127.
Required
Chapter 15 and 16 in Critical thinking: Tools for taking charge of your learning and your life (3rd ed.).
Beard, K. (2015). Theoretically speaking: An interview with Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi on flow theory development and its usefulness in addressing contemporary challenges in education. Educational Psychology Review, 27(2), 353-364. doi:10.1007/s10648-014-9291-1
La Ferla, B. (2005). Competition and creativity. Engineering Management Journal, 15(5), 1.
Lau, J., & Chan, J. (2017). Strategic analysis. Retrieved from http://philosophy.hku.hk/think/strategy/
Recommended
Maloney, D. H. (2010). Solving problems that count. Educational Leadership, 68(1), 55-58.
Creativity and Strategic Thinking
Discussion Questions
As you read the selections from Beard (2017) and Paul and Elder (2012), what is the connection between strategic thinking and creativity?
What barriers to strategic thinking discussed by Paul and Elder (2012) do you see in the workplace? What practical steps would you suggest to overcome these?
Requirements for Discussion Boards
Use the required readings to analyze and engage the discussion board questions.
- Your initial post should be roughly 200 words (plus or minus 10%). Each subsequent post should be 100 words (plus or minus 10%).
Include one or two scholarly sources that are not required or recommended for the HUM 101 course. The CSU-Global Library (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. is a good place to find these sources.
- Format your discussion, including all in-text citations and references, according to the CSU-Global Guide to Writing & APA (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site..
Each discussion board post (including follow-up posts) should include scholarly citations and references.
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