Definition
Ability to breakdown complex items or
problems into their component parts. Analyzes and uses
information in order to gain understanding or solve
problems. Uses information to gain insight into time
sequences, causality, varying contingencies, etc.
Develops feasible solutions based on logical assumptions and
factual observation that reflect consideration for
resources, constraints, organizational values and goals.
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Behavioral Descriptions
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Proficiency Level 5
Deals with issues from the
perspective of multiple inter-related functions of an
entire agency.
Analyses significantly impact an
entire organization or other organizations.
Solves problems that affect entire
organizations, large divisions, and entire range of
customer and stakeholder groups.
Develops broad strategies to utilize the least amount of
operational or human resources necessary to accomplish a
mission.
Is
considered an authority at understanding the essence of
a service or product.
Draws
upon extensive experience with a broad range of
failures, successes, issues, strategies, and operational
and human factors in developing solutions to problems.
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Proficiency Level 4
Analyzes and makes judgments that
impact the inter-related issues of various programs or
sub-functions of an entire division.
Analyses significantly impact a
division or large program or significant employee or
customers groups.
Extracts meaning from complex
information affecting performance of large sections of
an organization.
Synthesizes diverse
and challenging pieces of information and opinion
concerning complex, sensitive or multi-faceted
situations.
Logically balances
needs and desires with available resources and
constraints in solving problems.
Recommends
realistic action
Knows how much
evidence is enough in supporting a theory.
Draws upon a broad
range of past experiences and education in approaching
problems.
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Proficiency Level 3
Takes into account the complex issues
that affect multiple small groups (e.g., subordinate
teams or a limited number of customer groups).
Differentiates basic issues and
extracts sound inferences important to multiple groups
of customers or employees.
Analyzes the issues and recognizes
key elements or information pertinent to more than one
group of employees or customers.
Recognizes implications and consequences of a situation,
draws accurate conclusions, recommends or takes
realistic action.
Searches for ways to pattern solutions on similar
circumstances/ situations.
Coordinates solid, logical and systematic analysis to
develop a solution.
Knows when to stop, quit, or move on.
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Proficiency Level 2
Considers the components of a problem
or issue that affect a small work group or assigned
group of customers.
Makes inferences relevant to a work
unit within an agency or a subset of customers.
Identifies key issues and draws
logical conclusions relevant to a small work or customer
group.
Discerns information central to a
small group of employees, customers, or clients.
Thinks clearly
using analytical reasoning.
Uses logic and
reason to draw accurate conclusions and recommends
realistic action.
Draws on life
experience in resolving problems.
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Proficiency Level 1
Considers only the components of a
problem or complex issue that pertain to one’s personal
work or area of responsibility.
Makes inferences and draws
conclusions, which affect one’s personal work activities
or those of a few others and may affect one or a few
customers.
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Suggested Activities for Development
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Play card and/or board games that
will enhance your thinking skills (e.g., Mastermind,
chess, etc.).
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Volunteer to facilitate meetings.
Structure meetings that have a clear agenda. Make sure
that items on the agenda are presented in logical order.
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Identify a problem in your
organization where past solutions failed. Reflect back
on the reasons for selecting the solution and identify
any assumptions that had been made. Re-examine the
problem by breaking it down into pieces and examining
each separately. Devise a solution that gets at the root
of problem. Take into consideration reasons why this
solution will work when others failed.
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Over the next several weeks write
down any customer problems that were unexpected.
Determine the costs to your organization if these
problems are not solved. Identify the root cause(s) of
the problems and note any commonalties. Share your
findings with others in your organization.
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Identify a pertinent problem in your
organization. Share the problem with a group, brainstorm
about factors that may be causing the problem, then
identify the causes of the causes until you get to the
root of the problem.
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When determining a solution to a
problem, reflect back on a situation where you
successfully solved a similar problem. Outline the
process that was used and apply it to your current
situation.
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Identify someone who is successful at
solving problems and ask if there is a problem that you
can think through to enhance your problem solving
skills. Discuss the problem with the person. Look for
causal relationships. Develop a response to the problem,
then compare your response to the other person’s
response. Discuss similarities and differences in your
responses.
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When faced with a new or difficult
problem, create a diagram, which depicts the chain of
events that led up to the problem. Examine each event
with team members and establish a plan to prevent each
event from recurring.
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Analyze the results of a survey
(e.g., market, customer and/or employee satisfaction,
exit, etc.). Identify patterns and relationships among
the information gathered. Consider the implications and
share your findings with others.
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Identify the various types of
information that your organization collects and stores.
Use data mining techniques to uncover unsuspected links
and/or patterns among various factors. Consider the
implications for decision making within your
organization. Discuss your insights with others.
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Establish a forecasting model that
will predict the amount of resources (money, people,
technology, material/supplies) that will be needed at
any given time to achieve your organization’s goals and
objectives. Evaluate the model and modify as needed.
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Recommended Courses
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Additional Resource
Books
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Arco GRE/LSAT Logic Workbook 2000
Edition, by M. A. Stewart. The first of its kind, this
step-by-step guide utilizes targeted, intensive practice
for the tricky Analytical Reasoning/Logic Games
questions. It features in-depth practice with every type
of analytical reasoning question, detailed explanations
for all questions, and questions that build from easy to
challenging.
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The Art of Reasoning: Readings for
Logical Analysis by S. Stephen, R.C. Hicks & D. Kelley
(W. W. Norton & Company, 1998). Selections allow readers
to practice their logic skills on real-world arguments.
This edition includes eleven new essays on topics such
as the O.J. Simpson verdict, government funding for the
National Endowment of the Arts, scientific method and
the cure for "childbed fever," the constitutionality of
capital punishment, and evolutionary theory.
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Challenging Critical Thinking Puzzles
by M. DiSpezio (Sterling Publications, 1998). Readers
can see how "in shape" their minds are with some of the
most challenging critical thinking questions they'll
ever encounter. This book has them finishing layouts,
doing tricky calculations, and solving the complex
mysteries of visual design. 20 illustrations.
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Great Critical Thinking Puzzles by M.
DiSpezio (Sterling Publications, 1997). Eighty puzzles.
The answers are easy! But getting there is the hard
part. Uncover connections and identify hidden
relationships until suddenly the answers are appearing
as if by magic. Solve situations on the moon, around an
insect-eating plant and gold-record racing through space
in the Voyager spacecraft.
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Brain Power: Learn to Improve Your
Thinking Skills by K. Albrecht (Simon & Schuster, 1992).
This book introduces the six functional thinking
abilities you need to become an adaptive, innovative
thinker. As you develop your ability to think on your
feet, to isolate and arrange facts, and to avoid logical
pitfalls you will see how to use creative problem
solving strategies, both in business and in private
life.
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Reasoning Skills Success by Elizabeth
Chelsa (Learning Express, 1988). In 20 Minutes a day
will help the reader learn and master the basics, such
as problem solving strategies, logic skills, thinking
vs. knowing, inductive reasoning, and analyzing facts.
This book shows the reader specific techniques for
thinking clearly and logically in an easy 20-step
program.
Magazines
- Dell Logic Puzzles, Magazine City
Subscription. This magazine will help you sharpen your
skills of deductive reasoning with a magazine devoted
entirely to logic lovers. Each issue offers a wide
selection of puzzles for varied skill levels.
- Dell Math Puzzles and Logic Problems,
Magazine City Subscription. This magazine features a
variety of puzzles and problems to challenge and
stimulate.
Journal
- Thinking & Reasoning, Taylor & Francis Group, Press
Psychology
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This is an international journal
dedicated to the understanding of human thought
processes, with particular emphasis on studies on
reasoning. While the primary focus is on psychological
studies of thinking, contributions are welcome from
philosophers, artificial intelligence researchers and
other cognitive scientists whose work bears upon the
central concerns of the journal. Topics published in the
journal include studies of deductive reasoning,
inductive reasoning, problem solving, decision making,
probability judgment, conceptual thinking and the
influence of language and culture on thought.
- Critical Thinking Consortium http://www.criticalthinking.org
- Articles on Critical Thinking http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/cwp/lib/thkgbib.html
- Critical Thinking Organizations and Centers http://www.usd.edu/~dbrenner/thinking1n.html
- Critical Thinking on the Web http://www.philosophy.unimelb.edu.au/reason/critical/
- The Logic Problems Page www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/4484/logic.htm
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Behavioral-Based Interviewing Questions
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