Critical Thinking - A Strategic Competency
Abstract
From my previous experience as an instructor at the Defense Systems Management College and as a student at the US Army War College, the strategic importance of critical thinking is not being accepted, adopted or used by students. This research project explores the reasons for this outcome and provides recommendations and techniques to enhance acceptance of critical thinking as a tool for strategic leaders. It is my premise that critical thinking is either a strategic leader core competency or is a fundamental process for mastering strategic leader core competencies. Either way, critical thinking is a strategic imperative. This project researches critical thinking, specifically how to improve its acceptance and application in the strategic military environment. The project focuses on four areas, which if analyzed clearly and completely, will address how well critical thinking is being taught and accepted by students at the Army War College (AWC). The first area is the critical thinking concept. The objective of this element was to identify a critical thinking definition and concept, from the many that exist, which would be most useful to the AWC and for follow-on use in the strategic military environment. The second area is the audience. This element addresses how the audience effects learning. The third area is defining the benefits of CT. This area how well the audience sees the need, value or benefit of CT in their real-life. The fourth area is the current teaching approach. This area reviews the current CT approach taken by the AWC. The project offers recommendations for improving the acceptance and follow-on application of critical thinking in the strategic military environment.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 09, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADA401001
Entities
People
- Jeffrey L. Gwilliam
Organizations
- United States Army War College