critical thinking, leadership & management of health systems

7/27/2019 Critical Thinking, Leadership & Management of Health Systems

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Critical Thinking,Leadership &Management

of Health Systems

Dr Aderonke Manuwa-Olumide

WACP/CM Update Course on Leadership & Management, December 14th-18th,2009

CRITICAL THINKING THEPROBLEM AND CHALLENGE

Everyone thinks; it is our nature to do so.

Much of our thinking, by itself, is often partial,biased, distorted, uninformed, and prejudiced.

The quality of our life, what we produce, make,or build depends on the quality of our thought.

Shoddy thinking is costly, both in money

and in quality of professional life. Excellence in thought, however, must be

systematically cultivated

18 December 2009 2John Aheto


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What is Critical Thinking (CT)?

skilled thinking that demonstrates thecommitment to entertain all viewpointsempathetically and to assess them withthe same intellectual standards, withoutreference to ones own feelings orvested interests, or the feelings orvested interests of ones friends,

community, or nation.


What is Critical Thinking (CT)?-2

The art of thinking about your

thinking while you are thinking so asto make your thinking more clear,precise, accurate, relevant,consistent, fair, truthful, and credible.



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What is Critical Thinking (CT)?-3

Skilled thinking characterised byempathy into diverse opposing pointsof view and devotion to truth asagainst self-interest


What is Critical Thinking(CT)?-4

Skilled thinking that is consistent inthe application of intellectualstandards, holding oneself to thesame rigorous standards of evidence

and proof to which one holds onesantagonists.



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What is Critical Thinking

(CT)?-5Thinking critically involves:

The art of analysing and evaluating thinkingwith a view to improving it.

Understanding how our lenses influence ourperceptions, beliefs, and knowledge.

Making sense of the world by carefully

examining the thinking process to clarify andimprove our understanding


Critical ThinkersWhen we become critical thinkers:

We develop an awareness of theassumptions under which we, andothers, think, plan, and act.

We learn to pay attention to the

context and environment in which ourideas, attitudes, plans, and actionsare generated.



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Critical Thinkers -2When we become critical thinkers:

We become skeptical of quick-fixsolutions, of single answers toproblems, and of claims to universaltruths.

We also become open to realistic

alternative ways of looking at andbehaving in the world.


CRITICAL THINKING In essence, critical thinking is a self-

directed, self-disciplined, self-monitored,and self-corrective thinking.

It requires rigorous standards ofexcellence and mindful command overtheir use.

It entails effective communication andproblem solving abilities, and

It requires commitment to overcome ournative egocentrism and sociocentricism



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CRITICAL THINKING

The ability to think critically is importantfor our lives in many different ways,especially in the professions, business,education, and training.

When we are critical thinkers within ourprofessional, business, political, andintimate relationships, we learn to see

our actions through the critical eyes ofothers.


CRITICAL THINKING At our workplaces, we seek to exercise

democratic control over workplacefunctions and organization and to takeinitiative in designing the form andcontent of our plans and activities.

We become aware of the potential for

distortions and biases in depictions ofour private and public words andactions.



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CRITICAL THINKING

Generally, we value freedom, we practicedemocracy, we encourage a tolerance ofdiversity, and we hold in check thedemagogic tendencies of others.

As a dimension of learning, however,critical thinking in adulthood has beenneglected in the educational and training

literature and practice.


CRITICAL THINKING Thinking critically involves reflecting on the

assumptions underlying our and othersideas and actions, and contemplatingalternative ways of thinking, acting, andliving.

It is one of the important ways in which we

become responsible adults, professionals,students, citizens.



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CRITICAL THINKING

When we think critically:

We come to our judgments, choices,ideas, conclusions, decisions, etc. forourselves, instead of letting others dothese on our behalf.

We personally become actively engagedin creating our own and preferred

personal, professional, and social worlds.


CRITICAL THINKING

When we think critically:

We refuse to relinquish our responsibilityfor making the choices and decisions thatdetermine our individual and collectivefutures to those who presume to knowwhat is in our best interests thecustomers or clients or tax payers.



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CRITICAL THINKING

Critical thinking is for all professionals, leaders,managers, and educators who seek tounderstand and develop skills of critical thinkingin their colleagues, clients, learners, and peers.

In professional functions, critical thinking isuseful for those trying to understand howpeople can be challenged to become morequestioning, less accepting, and moreinvolved in controlling their own lives, destiny,and workplaces.


CRITICAL THINKING The components of critical thinking can be

recognized in peoples actions.

Critical thinking encourages us, ourcolleagues, and our clients to take a

critical look at what we are doing, whywe are doing it, what alternatives we

might and should consider, and how wecan learn from all this critical scrutiny.



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COMPONENTS OF CRITICALTHINKING

The components of critical thinking include:

being aware of the assumptions, perceptions, andbiases under which we and others plan, live, and act;

challenging these assumptions, perceptions, andbiases;

becoming aware of how context alters thought,attitude, behavior, and conclusions.

becoming skeptical of claims to universal truthsor ultimate explanations, and

intensely considering and imagining plausible

alternatives to our current attitudes and ways ofthinking, acting, living, decision making.


CRITICAL THINKING The ability to be critically reflective is one

significant criterion we use when judging whether aperson is mature, whether a society is democratic,whether an entity is effective, or whether there iscompliance.

People must connect their private lives withbroadened social forces.

We need to model the kinds of critical, reflectiveattitudes and behaviors we seek to encourage in

others. We need to challenge the assumptions and bases

through criteria analysis, critical questioning, criticalincidents, role play, and crisis-decision simulation.



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CRITICAL THINKING

We must also explore the range oftechniques for encouraging people toimagine plausible alternatives to theirfamiliar ways of thinking and living.

These include future-invention technique,the development of preferred scenarios,and the use of esthetic triggers to helppeople break free from habitual ways of

thinking, perceiving, and acting.


CRITICAL THINKING Critical thinking can be recognized in the

context of our personal relationships, workactivities, and political involvements.

It entails more than the skills of logicalanalysis

It also involves calling into question theassumptions underlying our customary,

habitual ways of thinking and acting andthen being ready to think and act differentlyon the basis of robust critical questioning.



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CRITICAL THINKING

Without critical thinking, our personalrelationships become stale, our workplacesremain stagnant or remain organized as theywere decades ago, and our organizationalinvolvements dwindle to the point of total non-

participation or irrelevance

A critically informed populace of critical thinkers ismore likely to productively participate in all forms

of professional and democratic activities.


CRITICAL THINKING THEMESCritical thinking is:

grounded on sound emotionalintelligence and intellectual curiosity

and challenge;

a continuous process, not an outcome

or end state; a very productive and positive activity



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CRITICAL THINKING THEMES

Manifestations of critical thinking varyaccording to the contexts in which itoccurs. It is:

triggered by positive as well as negativeevents

emotive as well as rational or logical


COMPONENTS OF CRITICALTHINKING

Identifying and challenging assumptions

Challenging the importance of context(hidden and uncritically assimilatedassumptions) in everything we do

Imagining and exploring viablealternatives

Developing and using professionalreflective skepticism



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FACILITATING CRITICAL THINKING (1)

Develop yourself as a critical thinker Affirm critical thinkers self-worth

Listen attentively to critical thinkers Show that you support critical thinkers

efforts Reflect and mirror critical thinkers

ideas and actions Motivate people to think critically


FACILITATING CRITICAL THINKING (2)

Regularly evaluate progress

Help critical thinkers to createnetworks

Be a critical teacher of others Make people aware of how they learn

critical thinking Actively model critical thinking



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CHECKLIST FOR REASONING ELEMENTS OF THOUGHT

All REASONING:

1. Has a Purpose

2. Is an attempt to Figure somethingout, settle some Issues or Question,solve some Problem

3. Is based on Assumptions

4. Is done from some Point Of View


CHECKLIST FOR REASONING ELEMENTS OF THOUGHT

All REASONING:

5. Is based on Data, Information, and Evidence

6. Is expressed through, and shaped byConcepts, Values, Principles, Ideas, etc.

7. Contains Inferences or Interpretations bywhich we draw Conclusions and give

meaning to Data or piece of Information.8. Leads to a Conclusion or Judgment, has

Implications, and Consequences,



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UNIVERSAL INTELLECTUALSTANDARDS OF THINKING (1)

Universal intellectual standards ofthinking are standards which must beapplied to thinking whenever one isinterested in checking the quality ofthinking and reasoning about aproblem, issue, or situation

To think critically, entails havingcommand over these standards



These standards entail:

Clarity:- unambiguous

Accuracy:- truth, verifiability

Precision:- details, specificity

Relevance:- connection, bearing on the

issue Depth:- complexities and significant issues

Breadth:- viable alternative points of view



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Logic:- making sense, following from,

Significance:- universal importance toothers

Completeness:- breadth and depth

Fairness:- equity and just


INTELLECTUAL TRAITS ORVIRTUES

Intellectual integrity or honesty

Intellectual humility

Confidence in reason

Intellectual perseverance

Fair-mindedness and objectivity

Intellectual courage Intellectual empathy

Intellectual autonomy or independence



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THE RESULTA well-cultivated critical thinker/professional:

Raises vital questions, issues, and problems;formulating them clearly and precisely.

Gathers and assesses relevant data andinformation, using abstract ideas to interpretthem effectively.

Comes to well-reasoned, sound conclusionsand solutions; testing them against relevantcriteria and universal standards.


THE RESULT (2)A well-cultivated critical thinker/professional

Thinks open-mindedly within alternativesystems of thought, recognising andassessing, as need be, their assumptions,implications, and practical consequences.

Communicates effectively with others infiguring out or crafting solutions tocomplex problems.



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STAGES OF CRITICAL THINKINGDEVELOPMENT (1)

UNREFLECTIVE THINKER:-

Unaware of significant problems in histhinking

CHALLENGED THINKER:-

faced with significant problems in his thinking

BEGINNING THINKER:-

tries to improve but without regular practice orconsistency


STAGES OF CRITICAL THINKINGDEVELOPMENT (2)

PRACTICING THINKER:-

recognizes the need for regular andconscious practice of thinking

ADVANCEDTHINKER:-

advances in keeping with his thinking practice

MASTER THINKER:- good habits of thought are becoming second

nature and automatic


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