STRATEGIC THINKING (I)

Prof.Dr.Dr.Dr.H.C. Constantin Bratianu

Faculty of Business Administration
Academy of Economic Studies
Bucharest, Romania

My business is
thinking

T.A. Edison

KNOWLEDGE PARADOX
We are living in a world which is infinite in time,
space and complexity
We need to understand this world for survival, and
for a better life
However, our mind is finite from biological and
psychological point of views
How can we know and understand an infinite world
with a finite mind ?

THINKING MODEL
We are using thinking models which are cognitive
approximations of complex real phenomena
Thinking models are developed throughout our
education in family, school, church and society
The more powerful these thinking models are, the
better cognitive approximations we can get
The more powerful these thinking models are, the
better decisions we can make

KNOWLEDGE

INTELLIGENCES

HUMAN CAPITAL
Rational

Rational

Rational
Emotional

Emotional

Emotional
Spiritual

Spiritual

Spiritual

Structure

Multifield Knowledge Model

SK

Spiritual
Knowledge Field

Rational
Knowledge
Field
RK

EK

Emotional
Knowledge Field

Rational Knowledge
It is the result of the
rational thinking and of the
consciousness process

It is conceived in the
Cartesian perspective
It can be explicit and tacit,
where tacit knowledge is
the result of the
internalization process

Peter Drucker

Cogito, ergo sum !

R. Descartes

THE DYAD OF
EXPLICIT-TACIT KNOWLEDGE
Structure

Knowledge
Transfer Process

Rational
Mind
Explicit
Knowledge
Non-Rational
Mind

Tacit Knowledge
Direct
Experience

Explicit knowledge

Values
Beliefs

Insights
Images

Emotions

Tacit
knowledge

Emotional Knowledge
Emotional knowledge is a
result of processing
information coming from our
sensory system.
Emotional knowledge
generates emotions and
feelings.
Emotional knowledge is
primarily unconscious.

Antonio
Damasio
Neuroscientist
Descartes error
Looking for Spinoza
The feelings of what
happens
Self comes to mind

Emotional Knowledge

EMOTIONAL KNOWLEDGE
Emotions are very powerful knowledge generators.
Think of the masterpieces of Michelangelo, Da Vinci,
Picasso, Mozart, Beethoven and others.
Think of the great artists playing in theatres and
movies.
Think of unexpected events able to generates
emotions.
Think of the great leaders able to motivate especially
through emotions many people.

THE DYAD OF
RATIONAL-EMOTIONAL KNOWLEDGE
Strudcture

Knowledge
Transfer Process
Rational
Mind

Non-Rational
Mind

Rational
Knowledge

Emotional
Knowledge

Direct
Experience

Spiritual Knowledge
Values = Deeply held ideas of
members about what is right or
wrong, fair or unfair anything
that has personal worth or
meaning
We are living in a given culture,
which is defined by a set of
fundamental values
We learn these values through
education in family, school,
church and society
Values constitute the reference
system of our decisions

Danah Zohar

Kamakura

To release the spirit one must accentuate the work with

meditations of the heart and the soul.

(M. Musaschi The Book of five rings)

CULTURAL VALUES IN USA

Private property
Competition and individualism
Performance
Time is the vital resource of any enterprise
The American dream and the need of self
fulfilment

CULTURAL VALUES IN JAPAN

Japanese cultural values are quite opposite of the
American cultural values
There is a strong emphasis on team work,
cooperation, modesty and group referential
system
There is a strong respect of seniority, academic
rank and hierarchy
There is a strong respect of traditions and
unwritten behaviour rules

Coca-Cola Company

Values:

Leadership: The courage to shape a better future.

Passion: Committed in heart and mind.
Integrity: Be real.
Accountability: If it is to be, its up to me.
Collaboration: Leverage collective genius.
Innovation: Seek, imagine, create, delight.
Quality: What we do, we do well.

Cognitive knowledge

Emotional knowledge

Spiritual knowledge

The triple
Helix of
Knowledge

Rational
knowledge

Emotional
knowledge

Spiritual
knowledge

Knowledge Dynamics

Vision &
Mission
Spiritual knowledge

Decision making

Rational
knowledge

Organizational
culture
Emotional
knowledge

INTELLIGENCES

Linguistic intelligence
Logical-Mathematical Intelligence
Naturalist intelligence
Spatial intelligence
Musical intelligence
Bodily-Kinesthetic intelligence
Interpersonal intelligence
Intrapersonal intelligence
Spiritual intelligence

COMMUNICATION
In US culture, communication is based on key
words and clear expression of ideas
Communication id based on economic principles
and less on literature principles and musical
melody
Precision is based more on the content of the
message than on its grammar rules
The language is direct and rational. There is no
room for emotions and fuzzy interpretations

PATTERNS OF THINKING
It works !
Do it yourself !
Modular thinking, and less integral thinking
Trust nothing of what you listen to, and only half of
what you see.

COMMUNICATION
Communication is based on what it is NOT said
Communication should be like a cover of the personal
feelings and beliefs
Messages should be fuzzy by their nature, giving full
liberty for interpretation
Silence is more precious than the spoken words
Never put questions about personal feelings and
thoughts, and never request a clear answer
Sharing experience is more important than defining it
in clear and direct way
Tacit knowledge is more important than explicit
knowledge

CULTURAL EXPERIENCE
Cultural experience is fundamental in creating and
using tacit knowledge
Experience relates directly to variety and not to time
spent in a given activity
Experience is the best teacher for understanding
cultural values of different peoples
Experience develops intuition and anticipation, and
thus it is best for developing vision
Experience contributes greatly in developing
interpersonal and intrapersonal intelligences
Experience in another country helps you in a better
understanding of your own cultural and social values