CREATIVE AND CRITICAL THINKING

Situation 1: Active Listening and feedback for problem solving

Description: Concentrating and actively listening to the presentation presented by managers and the information shared about the project. There is confusion related to the presentation regarding the activities involved and the responsibilities and scheduling of the project. There are various dimensions involved which require the need for identifying the thoughts of the manager regarding the project through questioning for problem-solving 

Problem description: The problem is found in less concentration and lack of clarity in the information shared that ultimately affect the outcome of the project work. This also leads to complication in the performance and the workplace attitude is also disturbed leading to conflict among the individual and restriction on job progression. 

Critical thinking application: Application of effective communication strategy for conflict management among team members by explaining tips for handling project work effectively (Normore, Javidi & Long, 2019)

Results: This helps in the development of integration in the work process and improvement of the performance environment. The risks of wastage of resources and time are minimised and team members are given the opportunity to give their input in strategic implementation.

Reflection: Through reflection, it is noted that without proper concentration the potential of a project can be hampered. The need for coordination among team members and the need for avoiding unwanted conflicts or wrong sharing of information had been noted. The need for the intervention by the manager and his attempts at conflict management has been felt necessary for conflict resolution 

A critical assessment of knowledge and personal skill: Absence of active listening skill and feedback can hamper the performance of any project in an organisation (Sastromiharjo, Damaianti & Mulyati, 2020). Hence there is a need for the development of active listening skills and feedback for supporting the strategy formulation for project performance effectively.  

Situation 2: Creative culture

Description: The focus on regional language and attending the needs of loyal customers forms part of the organisational culture and promotes creative culture. When a culture is adaptive it can attract loyal customers especially the customers belonging to the different cultural environment (Rajoo, 2020)

Problem description: It has been noted that ineffective skills for adopting cross-cultural behaviour harm the organisational productivity and its acceptance by the customers. Development of creativity and innovation is influenced by workplace environment and the lack of Creative culture hampers loyalty generation among customers and issues are generated in retaining organisational practice for customers of cross-culture (Hartley, 2019).

Critical thinking application: Skill development of employees to handle cross-cultural customer or hiring employees to specifically address cross-cultural can resolve the problem. It would be a better alternative to empower the existing employees through training to handle cross-cultural workplace environment as they can put their experience along with your knowledge. 

Results: Development of a creative culture can be possible and customers can be served according to their cultural environment. The element of comfort can be achieved by the constant was accordingly.

Reflection: The situation helps in the realisation of the significance of creative culture in the workplace and the importance of dealing with customers of a different culture for meeting competitive advantage and retaining customers.  

A critical assessment of knowledge and personal skill:  Creative culture is an innovative strategy for achieving success and to be competitive. The need for better understanding of cross-cultural demands of customers and their behaviour is necessary.

Situation 3: Sustaining creative workplace

Description: The practice by the management in an organisation for maintaining sustainable creativity is possible through the practice of Sustainable creativity in presentation and service of products. The initiative taken by existing employees allows new employees to support creative culture through their workplace empowerment.

Problem description: Options of a good relationship and discriminatory practices against some organisational employees is a problem. Creative culture is affected when there is a lack of sharing of skill and knowledge among employees due to workplace discrimination (Nasifoglu Elidemir, Ozturen & Bayighomog, 2020). The continuity of innovative and creative practices is also disturbed by employees not taking interest in workplace activities auto brainstorm new ideas for working creatively.

Critical thinking application: Strategic application through the process of cultural transmission among existing employees helps in the improvement of creative culture and supports the building of innovation strategies (Rasool, Wang, Zhang & Samma, 2020). Evolution of creative performance influences existing employees to share information in the work environment.

Results: Responsibility among the engaged employees is enhanced and skill development is possible through brainstorming to enhance productivity.

Reflection: This situation is in understanding restrictions in creative culture formulation in the organisational environment. This affects the scope of achieving productive results in future and achievement of competitive advantage.

A critical assessment of knowledge and personal skill: Strategic implementation is developed from innovative practice in organisational culture. For developing sustainability in innovative practice, empowerment of employees and promotion of brainstorming practice is important for the achievement of effective performance. Application of practices of innovation and evidence practice practices can help to sustain and develop innovative performance.  

Situation 4: Generation of work-related alternative plans

Description: In every project, there is a need for an alternative plan in case the initial plan fails for meeting project requirements. In a retail unit, suppliers are considered based on their cost-effectiveness in maintaining product costs placed in the shops. However supplier of similar quality products with lower quantity purchase can be an alternative for handling increased orders

Problem description: Sudden demand for products and Limited supply of resource can affect demand and supply of products and loyalty of constructors is affected (Imanirad, Yang & Yeomans, 2016). Ability at attracting new customers also becomes a challenge.

Critical thinking application: Supplier selection based on supplier capability and development of an alternative plan for managing excess supply to market can be supported by effective forecasting. Maintenance of product stock for handling sudden demand by customers can be managed by maintaining backup suppliers with whom purchase can be made at a particular interval.

Results: Achievement of higher customer loyalty and Business expansion from the alternate plan and retaining of market value

Reflection: It is clear from the given situation that it is important to be prepared for any situation by preparing alternative in organisational practice. 

A critical assessment of knowledge and personal skill: Alternative plan for any particular project is effective for managing the critical situation and overcoming issues to sustain organisational goals. Hence the decision to be prepared with an alternative plan has advantages as part of organisational practice.

Situation 5: Emotional support

Description: Psychological difficulties in an individual make it difficult for them to cook with work pressure. In an organisation communication and sharing of feelings is an important aspect of motivation. However, there was a lack of emotional support co-workers specifically the new workers that affected the performance and lead to lack of motivation and strain at the workplace. 

Problem description: Lack of support and improper behaviour from a co-worker is psychologically burdening for the employee who cannot take responsibility for its performance (Kock et al. 2019). 

Critical thinking application: Arrangement of a team discussion and an informal meeting of teammates for discussing the problem of the employee and to show emotional support. It is for the development of unity and empathy for each other so that emotional strength can be generated and the psychological health of every employee can be maintained.

Results: The employee has enhanced level of concentration and motivation for work and can address its responsibilities in an effective manner. This enhances individual work outcome and overall organisational performance.

Reflection: Reflecting on the situation it can be stated that emotional support and emotional intelligence of employees is important for employee motivation for job performance. It is also necessary for overall increment of eclipse productivity. 

Critical assessment of knowledge and personal skill: For employee motivation and work place achievements emotional intelligence among employees is an important skill (Koch & Adler, 2018). It is an important behavioural skill necessary for regulation of workplace behaviour for successful workplace outcomes and team unity.

Situation 6: Application of design thinking

Description: Design application for marketing is important for the branding of the products in the market. Designing any slogan for brand logo helps in creating familiarity and recognition of the brand among target consumers that is necessary for building market value. Idea sharing and brainstorming regarding the making of the brand slogan and logo is important for attracting target consumers and active branding.

Problem description: Managers where not creative and flexible in their decision making regarding making changes in the idea of the slogan and the logo. The ideas of some of the senior employees was been given more importance because of the bias of the managers. This led to conflicts among employees and the aim of design thinking was not fulfilled.

Critical thinking application: Every employee submits the suggestion about the slogan and the logo of the product in the project. Through active participation of the employees and managers and feedback from the employees the most appropriate slogan and logo is selected that can attract the target consumers.

Results: The most attractive logo that can create recognition about the brand among the target consumers and increase brand value is achieved. Moreover, importance is also given to the opinions of all the engaged employees and the managers in design making through consensus and discussion.

Reflection: Open mindedness and discussion can bring flexibility in decision making and lead to best decisions if Idea sharing is possible through communication (Imanirad, Yang & Yeomans, 2016). The sharing of different views of the people had enhanced the scope and efficiency of the design.

Critical assessment of knowledge and personal skill: Communication skills and flexibility along with effective leadership practices by managers can help the potential of any project. This can also eliminate the risks of compromise in the quality of the work outcome and develop better performance outcome through creative thinking and discussions.

Situation 7: Ideation and brainstorming 

Description: The process of ideation and brainstorming had been engaged regarding launching a new product for a new target market. This required being innovative approach towards developing the idea of a new product that would be competitive and different from the rival companies.

Problem description: The engage employees had not been very seen on brainstorming new ideas and to use internet for conducting research on new product or conduct market research. Discuss limited the scope of the innovation in the idea of the product and it was also not certain that the product had been launched by any other company. The process has become very serious and the employees had lost interest in the idea generation.

Critical thinking application: Employees engaged in internet search and market research for developing prototype of the most attractive product according to the research. Brainstorming had been done for analysing the presentation of the product to the investors.

Results: A well developed plan for a new product has been prepared and a presentation had also been prepared to be presented to the management through consensus of all the engaged employees and hours of ideation.

Reflection: It has been reflected that for ideation and brainstorming there is need for active discussions and feedback of every engaged individual is important for increasing the scope of Idea generation. Idea generation also requires open-mindedness and flexibility in approach. Research work also helps in the process of development of idea (Levine et al. 2016)

Critical assessment of knowledge and personal skill: Research skills are important for developing the scope of research and Idea formation. Brainstorming requires skills at flexibility openness in approach. 

Situation 8: Significance of critical thinking

Description: For forecasting demand about products critical thinking process is used for predicting demand and management of inventory so that wastage can be reduced. Evidence based practices and changes in the processing of inventory can lead to efficiency and management of unsold goods. 

Problem description: Much focus has been given on the internal assessment of the demand and the internal stock management of the business operations however the assessment of the market environment had been ignored with regards to the analysis of consumption pattern of previous customers and market trends analysis. Resultantly products that had not been very popular among the existing consumers where again launched in the market that leads to wastage of the stocks. Competing products sold products more effectively because of inefficiency and forecasting the pattern of the consumption of the consumers.

Critical thinking application: For attracting new customers and offer was launched where the old stocks that were not popular among the consumers were sold along with new products launched that where popular according to the market trends. Consumers who had purchased more than specific amount received the old stock of products free of cost and in this way stock management of a new stocks was possible and customer attraction was also done.

Results: Customer attraction was possible and there was also proper management of the old stocks. Waste management in the warehouse was also possible through proper management of the stocks.

Reflection: Through proper market research of the existing trends and forecasting wastage of the resources can be possible. Assessment of the market trends and research can you help in cost and resource saving.

Critical assessment of knowledge and personal skill: For reaching logical conclusion in business activities there is need for considering different factors for effective decision making. Critical thinking requires assessment of associated factors related to a business activity rather than focusing on some factors only (Taghinezhad, Riasati & Behjat, 2019).

Situation 9: Problem solving 

Description: Many stocks in the stores of the company had been out of demand because of the complaint regarding the quality of the products

Problem description: The workforce of the company had been engaged in use of similar technology and production process. Introduction of new technology for enhancing the quality of the products was not done. The workers are also facing aversion in adjusting to new technologies introduced by the company.

Critical thinking application: Change management strategy had been implemented and changes were communicated with the employees to state the requirement for change to manage the quality of the products. Training session were part of the strategy for change management for developing employees’ skills.

Results: Technological environment was maintained and there was development of the overall quality of the product. Skill transmission was also possible from existing to new employees in the workplace environment.

Reflection: Implementation of effective strategies can be possible only if issues are identified. Problem solving requires identification of problem followed by changes made for strategic improvement (Herron & Hennessey, 2019)

Critical assessment of knowledge and personal skill: there was development of skill of enquiry to identify problems by looking at the problems from different perspectives and also knowledge about Change management strategies had been developed (Lassoued, Awad & Guirat, 2020)

Situation 10: visualisation practice

Description: Product development required visualisation of different factors that can be engaged for reducing cost of the product and enhancing customer attraction. For this purpose of presentation was supposed to be presented to the investors for making them agreed to fund the product design and for this the product presentation was required to be attractive. 

Problem description: Notes and description of products where presented and discussed in meeting without use of attractive graphs and charts for making the presentation attractive to the investors

Critical thinking application: mind map had been used for the visualisation of the product and to show all the associated factors and costs in a presentable and attractive manner.

Results: The idea of the product and the associated factors had been effectively presented to the investors and they were able to understand the goal of the product and other aspects in a quick manner.

Reflection: It is important to present ideas in an attractive manner specifically during communication of ideas with others who have not been involved in the process of ideation. 

Critical assessment of knowledge and personal skill: Visual mapping and use of Mind Map are effective tools in presentation and can be used for presentation of ideas (Ong, 2016).