Trends, Networks, and Critical

Thinking ain 21 Century

st

Understanding Strategic
Analysis and Intuitive
Thinking
Topic Outline
I. Strategic Analysis and Intuitive
Thinking
II. Application of strategic analysis
III. Application of intuitive thinking in
solving a problem
Aristotle described the
human person as an
“rational animal” which
only mean that we
humans are the only
beings capable of
reasoning or thinking.
Thinking
is an important part of our human experience,
and one that has captivated people for centuries.

Thinking Skills
are the mental activities you use to process
information, make connections, make
decisions, and create new ideas.
You use your thinking skills when you try
to make sense of experiences, solve
problems, make decisions, ask questions,
make plans, or organize information.
True or False
1. I think several times
before I do something.
2. I often assume and it
usually works.
1. I think several times
before I do something.

2. I often assume and it

usually works.
3. When people relay
information to me, I easily
believe it.

4. I tend to believe what I

5. I take responsibility to
everything I hear and say.

6. I verify and look for basis

before concluding.
7. I answer questions which
I do not know.

8. I randomly click “Like” in

Facebook without any
9. I ask questions why I need
to do my assigned tasks.

10. I just yield to whatever I

am asked to do.
This concept was restated by the
modern thinker, Rene Descartes, in
his famous “cogito ergo sum” or “I
think therefore I exist” which he
meant that we human beings,
whether we liked it or not, whether
we choose it or not, whether we
doubt it or not, we think.
The question “why we think?”
may be functionally answered by
sciences like psychology, biology
and physics but the question “how
we think?” brings us to the
process and development of our
capacity to think.
Strategic Analysis
a system or method that requires
deliberate, abstract, and effortful
thinking that breaks down a
complex problem into parts.
Deliberate thinking employs a
detailed examination of a problem
to come up with a solution. This
involves looking at the context of
the problem. The amount of time
and resources are the primary
factors in strategic analysis.
The most common strategic
analysis model used in decision-
making follows five steps as
illustrated in the diagram below.
.
.
Another focus of this lesson is for
you to engage in decision-making
activities that will allow you to
apply decision making methods.
Strategic analysis is relevant
in addressing your personal issues
as a student.
It means that you can also analyze
your own strengths, weaknesses,
opportunities, and threats in order
to make creative strategies or
solutions in facing life challenges.
In practice, a personal SWOT
(Strengths, Weaknesses,
Opportunities, Threat/s) will help
you understand your
personal issues and goals as well
as construct effective ways in
dealing with both.
 Personal SWOT analysis of a
student who wishes to finish high
school with good grades.
.
Intuitive thinking
is “quick and ready insight”
(Webster’s New Collegiate
Dictionary).
It is another approach to decision-
making.
This is the ability to understand
something instinctively without
the need for conscious reasoning.
Sometimes, it is referred to as gut
feeling, sixth sense, inner sense,
instinct, inner voice, spiritual
guide, etc.
Intuitive thinking is affected by
how one feels and define a thing
or event.
Particular norms and value
systems within a community are
considered when making
decisions.
For example, farmers would not
touch certain places in the field
like an anthill. When asked
why they do avoid such places,
they cannot cite any pragmatic
reason. It was just intuition.
Intuitive decision-making is far
more than using common sense
because it involves additional
sensors to perceive and get aware
of the information from outside.
In dealing with everyday life issues
and situations, we are called to
make immediate decisions based
on our ‘gut’ feelings and prior
knowledge and experiences.
This type of decision-making is
evident in various situations: a
doctor assessing an emergency
case; a buyer examining which
vegetable to buy; and a firefighter
trying to rescue a fire victim.
In these cases, one would not
hesitate or delay making decisions
because these situations need
immediate action.
how both approaches can be best
combined for best results and to
avoid mistakes and prejudices.
n
Dino, a five-year-old boy, puts a label “salt” into a jar of sugar. Actually, he
has been observing it almost everyday because many ants are attacking the
jar. q
1.What do you think, why Dino has
labeled “salt” the jar of sugar?
2.Did he use intuitive or strategic
way of thinking? Why?
3.What is lacking in his problem-
solving skill?