Post Graduate Programme in Management

AY 2021-22 Term: I

TITLE OF THE COURSE: CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS

CREDITS: 1 Section 8

Instructors Details:

Name of the Faculty Room Email Phone Consultation time

No. No.
Prof. Abha Chatterjee
(VF)
Prof. Madhusri B110 madhusri@iimidr.ac.in 544 Tuesday, 2 to 4 PM
Shrivastava
Prof. Swatantra C103 swatantra@iimidr.ac.in 576 Tuesday, 2 to 4 PM
Prof. Shweta Kushal C202 shweta@iimidr.ac.in 572 Tuesday, 2 to 4 PM

COURSE DESCRIPTION
Thinking critically and analytically is one of the most basic skills that a manager needs to acquire
as the ability to analyze a situation without biases and with its merits is the mainstay of discharging
one’s managerial duties. This workshop focuses on exposing the participants to a critical outlook
and assisting them in developing the same.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

This course is designed to assist students enhance their critical thinking skills. At the end of this
course, the participants should be able to:
 Differentiate between critical and non-critical thinking
 Identify facts, opinions, assumptions and inferences as well as assess the impact they have
on critical thought
 Develop and apply a step-by-step analytical thought process

Learning Outcomes
Expected Learning Outcomes and Associated Measures

At the end of the course the student is expected to accomplish the following learning outcomes
(CLO). Alignment of CLO with the Program Level Goals and Objectives and Assessment of the
learning outcomes of the course is presented below.
 Course Learning Outcome
1. Develop and apply a step-
by-step analytical thought
process
Program Level Goals/ Outcome Assessment Tool(s)
1.1 Relate the classroom learning with Individual Written
problem/s faced by the organisation Assignment (Case
or measures taken by the Analysis)
organisation to address a problem/s
1.2 Identify the decision problem along
with sources
1.3 Identifies and presents appropriate
evidence supporting the analysis of
alternatives
1.4 Evolves one’s own perspective or
takes a position / makes judgement

PEDAGOGY/TEACHING METHOD:

Participants will be exposed to the critical thinking through lectures, discussions, situational
analysis, and creative exercises.

EVALUATION
Individual Component Group Component Weightage
Class Exercises 50%
Written Exam 50%

Total 100%

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY:
IIM Indore believes in Academic honesty. Academic dishonesty or misconduct is cheating that
relates to an academic activity. It is a violation of trust between the Institute and its stakeholders.
Plagiarism, fabrication, deception, cheating and sabotage are examples of unacceptable academic
conduct. Please consult the Programme manual for the section on academic dishonesty.

SCHEDULE OF SESSIONS

MODULE I WHAT IS CRITICAL THINKING?

Module Objective: To understand how to think critically

SESSIONS AND OBJECTIVE

Session 1: What is Critical Thinking?

Objective: Differentiating between Critical and Non-Critical Thinking; Understanding barriers to

Critical Thinking.
Class Activity and Discussion
Case: Williamson, A. D. (1993). Is this the right time to come out? Harvard Business
Review. Product No.: Reprint 93411. pp. 1-5.
 Session 2 Identifying Facts, Opinions, Assumptions, and Inferences
and 3:
Objective: To differentiate between facts, opinions, assumptions and inferences and understand
the impact these have on the critical process
Reading: Current Articles to be identified from Magazines and Newspapers.
Individual Exercises

Session 4 Arguments and Non-Arguments

Objective Distinguishing between arguments and non-arguments
Individual Exercises

MODULE II CRITICAL THINKING APPLIED

Module Objective: To develop and apply the critical method

SESSIONS AND OBJECTIVE

Session 5: Steps of Analysis and Critical Analysis of a Case

Objective: To familiarize students with the six steps involved in analysis and application
Reading: Penrose, Rasberry and Myers. (2004). Business Communication for Managers.
Cengage Learning. Chapter 15. Reporting Case Analyses
Case: McMillan, K. (2015). Managing up (A): Grace. Richard Ivey School of Business
Foundation. Product No.: W15269. pp. 1-5.

******