Critical Thinking And Decision Making In Business
PHL/320 Critical Thinking and Decision Making in Business
Copyright ©2014 by University of Phoenix. All rights reserved.
SYLLABUS
Course Description This course explores the critical thinking techniques necessary to be an effective manager within an organizational setting. Students will focus on critical-thinking and reasoning methods as they apply to management concepts within a work environment. Other topics include the use of critical thinking skills in the decision-making process as it applies to expectations for successful performance of employees and organizations and achieving desired business goals.
Course Dates Sep 30, 2014 – Nov 03, 2014
Faculty Information
• Academic Policies University policies are subject to change. Be sure to read the policies at the beginning of each class. Policies may be slightly different depending on the modality in which you attend class. If you have recently changed modalities, read the policies governing your current class modality.
Get Ready for Class • Familiarize yourself with the textbooks used in this course.
Course Materials All electronic materials are available on your student website.
Faculty and students/learners will be held responsible for understanding and adhering to all policies contained within the following two documents (both located on your student website):
Policies
JENNIFER STEPHENS (PRIMARY)Name : Email Address : stephensjenn@email.phoenix.edu Alternate Email Address Phone Number : Not Available
Week1 Sep, 30 – Oct, 06 Basics of Critical Thinking
Tasks
1.1 Describe the importance of critical thinking to the decision-making process. 1.2 Differentiate among types of reasoning and critical thinking. 1.3 Explain common cognitive biases.
Objectives/Competencies
Required Learning Activities • Critical Thinking, Ch. 1 • Critical Thinking, Ch. 2 • Critical Thinking, Ch. 3 • Week One Electronic Reserve Readings • Knowledge Check Personalized Study Guide • Critical Thinking Ch. 1, 2, & 3 Microsoft® PowerPoint® Presentations • Critical Thinking Ch. 1 Multiple Choice Quiz • Critical Thinking Ch. 2 Multiple Choice Quiz • Critical Thinking Ch. 3 Multiple Choice Quiz • Gates Go Back to School Video • Introduction • Learning Team
Assignments
See the student website for additional recommended learning activities that may help you learn this week’s concepts.
Title Type Due Points
Week 1 Participation Participate in class discussion. Individual Oct 06, 2014 11:59 PM 2
Critical Analysis Worksheet
Read “Common Core” and “The Battle Against Common Core Standards.” Complete the University of Phoenix Material: Critical Analysis Worksheet.
Individual Oct 06, 2014 11:59 PM 2
Critical Thinking Discussion and Summary
Participate in a class discussion by responding to the following questions:
• How would you define critical thinking? What makes a person a critical thinker?
• Why is critical thinking important? Provide an example of how critical thinking has helped you in your life.
• What do you expect to learn from this course? Write a paragraph summarizing the discussion.
Individual Oct 06, 2014 11:59 PM 1
Week 1 Knowledge Check
Complete the Week 1 Knowledge Check.
Individual Oct 06, 2014 11:59 PM 2
• Review the Knowledge Check Training Materials.
Week2 Oct, 07 – Oct, 13 Problem Identification and Formulation
Tasks
2.1 Identify the processes involved in identifying, formulating, and solving business problems. 2.2 Apply concepts of critical thinking to identifying and formulating problems. 2.3 Identify common rhetorical devices and fallacies.
Objectives/Competencies
Required Learning Activities • Management, Ch. 3 • Critical Thinking, Ch. 5 • Critical Thinking, Ch. 6 • Critical Thinking, Ch. 7 • Management, “The Functions of Management” section in Ch. 1 • “Managerial Skills: What has Changed Since the Late 1980s” • Week Two Electronic Reserve Readings • Logical Fallacies • Knowledge Check Personalized Study Guide • Critical Thinking Ch. 5 Multiple Choice Quiz • Critical Thinking Ch. 6 Multiple Choice Quiz • Critical Thinking Ch. 7 Multiple Choice Quiz • Management Ch. 1 & 3 Microsoft® PowerPoint® Presentations • Critical Thinking Ch. 5, 6, & 7 Microsoft® PowerPoint® Presentations • Problem Solving Skills Video • Creativity with Bill Moyers: Maya Angelou Video • Learning Team Learning Team Discussion
Assignments
See the student website for additional recommended learning activities that may help you learn this week’s concepts.
Title Type Due Points
Week 2 Participation Participate in class discussion. Individual Oct 13, 2014 11:59 PM 2
• Complete the Learning Team Charter.
Globalization Argumentative Paper
Review the Writing Argumentative Essays section in Ch. 3 of Critical Thinking
Write an argumentative paper of no more than 750 words that demonstrates why globalization is good or not good for a business. The paper should define the term good, and should identify the premises and conclusions.
Identify the premise and conclusion by placing a number in bold at the beginning of the sentence with the word premise or conclusion. For example: (1, Premise), (2, Premise), (1, Conclusion), (2, Conclusion), and so on.
• Sentences labeled as “1, premise” are premises for the sentence labeled as “1, conclusion.”
• All premises should be labeled for each conclusion in the article. If a sentence is a conclusion and a premise for another conclusion, place two labels.
• At the end of the paper, identify one example of how you used deductive reasoning and one example of how you used inductive reasoning. Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.
Individual Oct 13, 2014 11:59 PM 8
Week 2 Knowledge Check Complete the Week 2 Knowledge Check. Individual Oct 13, 2014 11:59 PM 2
Re-organization and Layoff Team Discussion & Summary
Review the linked articles and select one to review with your team. Post your response to the following questions for your selected article:
• What is the problem presented in the article? • Why do you think it is the problem? • What are some possible solutions? Discuss with your team, responding to your teammates’ posts. Write a 3-paragraph synopsis that summarizes your team’s discussion.
Individual Oct 13, 2014 11:59 PM 1
Week3 Oct, 14 – Oct, 20 Creativity
Tasks
3.1 Describe various methods for enhancing creativity and innovation in a business setting. 3.2 Identify opportunities in which to apply critical thinking to innovation. 3.3 Identify methods for formulating original and creative responses to opportunities and problems. 3.4 Identify potential barriers to applying creative thinking to business decision making.
Objectives/Competencies
Required Learning Activities • Innovation Acceleration, Ch. 3 • Management, Ch. 4 • Example SWOT Analysis • Knowledge Check Personalized Study Guide • Innovation Acceleration, Ch. 3 Microsoft® PowerPoint® Presentation • Management, Ch. 4 Microsoft® PowerPoint® Presentation
• Learning Team Pair-Up
• Management, Ch. 4 Video and Discussion • Business Model Innovation Beats Technical Innovation Video • Achieving Smart Goals video • Creative Thinking Under Siege Video • Innovation Video • TEDTalk Video • Strategies for a SWOT Analysis Podcast • Week 2 Paper Peer Review • Week Three Electronic Reserve Readings
Assignments
See the student website for additional recommended learning activities that may help you learn this week’s concepts.
Title Type Due Points
Week 3 Participation Participate in class discussion. Individual Oct 20, 2014 11:59 PM 2
Rhetorical Strategies and Fallacies Worksheet Complete the University of Phoenix Material: Rhetorical Strategies and Fallacies Worksheet.
Individual Oct 20, 2014 11:59 PM 3
Re-organization and Layoff: Issue and Problem Identification Paper
Review the discussion from Week 2.
Write a paper of no more than 1,050 words that incorporates ideas from the discussion. The paper should do the following:
• Summarize the issue. • Identify the problem. • Explain why this is the underlying problem. • Reflect on the group collaboration process in defining the problem. • Explain how a clearly defined problem could help you find the solutions. Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.
Learning team
Oct 20, 2014 11:59 PM 9
Week 3 Knowledge Check Complete the Week 3 Knowledge Check. Individual Oct 20, 2014 11:59 PM 2
Week4 Oct, 21 – Oct, 27 Decision Making
4.1 Evaluate the credibility of claims and their sources for making decisions. 4.2 Apply a decision-making technique to a business situation. 4.3 Identify the factors, resources, and actions most often used to implement business decisions and change.
Objectives/Competencies
Required Learning Activities • Management, Ch. 18 • Critical Thinking, Ch. 4 • Week Four Electronic Reserve Readings • “Make Better Business Decisions” Reading • Final Examination Preparation • Critical Thinking Ch. 4 Multiple Choice Quiz • Management Ch. 18 Microsoft® PowerPoint® Presentation • Critical Thinking Ch. 4 Microsoft® PowerPoint® Presentation • “Colin Powell: A Leadership Primer, Lesson 15” • Managing Change in a Large Organization Video • Teach Managers How To Think, Not What To Think Video • Management, Ch. 18 Video and Discussion Video
Assignments
See the student website for additional recommended learning activities that may help you learn this week’s concepts.
Title Type Due Points
Week 4 Participation Participate in class discussion. Individual Oct 27, 2014 11:59 PM 2
SWOT and Strategy Evaluation Paper
Select an industry, such as the gambling industry, to complete a SWOT analysis. Access the profile overview for the selected industry:
• In the University Library, click Company Directory and Financials. • Click Hoover’s First Research. • Click Continue. • Click Submit. • Type gambling (or your selected industry) in the search box, and click to continue. • Gambling (or the selected industry of choice) should be first in the list. Read the industry profile overview, including the website links, on the page. Complete a SWOT analysis for the selected industry. The SWOT analysis allows a business to understand how a competitor is positioned in the environment by assessing its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. An understanding of a competitor’s position can be a key for a business to determine where funding and resources should be allotted to create new products or services. Use information in the industry profile overview and other scholarly sources as needed. The SWOT analysis should include each of the following:
• Strengths • Weaknesses • Opportunities • Threats Write a 1,050- to 1,500-word paper, including the following attributes:
• SWOT analysis, including a SWOT chart
• Identify opportunities (either product or service) that could improve the customer experience.
• Strategy evaluation • Define strategic tasks. • Assess the industry’s capabilities. • Identify the barriers to strategy implementation. • A response to the following: • Based on the SWOT analysis and strategy evaluation, what are some creative actions the industry can pursue to include innovation as a component of their strategy? Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.
Individual Oct 27, 2014 11:59 PM 15
Re-Organization and Layoff: Solutions Paper
Select two potential creative solutions for the problems you identified in the Re-organization and Layoff assignment in Week 2. Write a paper of no more than 1,050 words to present the solutions and explain why each will work. Include a summary of methods your teams utilized to develop the creative solution. Describe how your team overcame barriers to deciding on the solutions.
Learning team
Oct 27, 2014 11:59 PM 10
Week5 Oct, 28 – Nov, 03 Critical Thinking and Decision-Making Outcomes
5.1 Apply appropriate critical-thinking methods, tools, and techniques to various business situations. 5.2 Evaluate the ethical implications of implementing decisions in business.
Objectives/Competencies
Required Learning Activities • Management, “Organizational Decision Making” section in Ch. 3 • Management, Ch. 5 • Critical Thinking, Ch. 12 • Week Five Electronic Reserve Readings • Final Examination Preparation, Cont’d. • Critical Thinking Ch. 12 Multiple Choice Quiz • Critical Thinking Ch. 12 Microsoft® PowerPoint® Presentation • “Ethics in Corporate America: A Crisis of Credibility” Video • “The Future of Socially Responsible Investing: Ethical Markets 4” Video • Learning Team Assignment Development • Validity of Points of View Tutorial
Assignments
See the student website for additional recommended learning activities that may help you learn this week’s concepts.
Title Type Due Points
Week 5 Participation Participate in class discussion. Individual Nov 03, 2014 11:59 PM 2
Labor Practices Paper
A clothing company uses sweatshop labor to manufacture clothing products that contribute to low pricing, which is a consumer want. Many companies have engaged in sweatshop labor. Did the clothing company engage in unethical labor practices by utilizing sweatshop labor? Research sweatshop labor.
Write a paper of no more than 750 words to present your position on sweatshop labor and provide justification. Include the following:
• How consumer demands affect a company’s business decision • How different ethical perspectives guide ethical decision making • How a company influences their ethical environment Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.
Individual Nov 03, 2014 11:59 PM 10
Re-organization and Layoff: Decision Making Evaluation Paper
Write a paper of no more than 750 words to include the following elements:
• Select a recommendation from the two creative solutions identified in Week 4 for solving the problem. • Explain why the solution would help the middle-income customer. Provide credible sources to support your decision. • Explain what business decision an organization should make based on the solution. • For the business decision chosen, explain the resources an organization would need to implement that decision and factors that might affect the implementation. Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.
Learning team
Nov 03, 2014 11:59 PM 10
Final Examination
Complete the Final Examination.
The Final Examination ismultiple choice, andis based on the readings. The examinationis graded electronically during the final week, and the results will be available to students and faculty.
Individual Nov 03, 2014 11:59 PM 15
All trademarks are property of their respective owners. University of Phoenix® is a registered trademark of Apollo Group, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Microsoft®, Windows®, and PowerPoint® are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All other company and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Use of these marks is not intended to imply endorsement, sponsorship, or affiliation.
Trademark
