Critical Thinking

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Walden University

TH3001: Critical and Creative Thinking and Problem Solving

©2020 Walden University 1

Part 1: Thinking Critically and Creatively

Empathizing

Analyzing the Situation

Identifying Interview Subjects

Replace this text with your response to the following: Identify at least three people (or groups of people) whom you would interview to gain additional information about the situation and the needs of your client. Provide a rationale for each of your selections. (75–150 words, or 1–2 paragraphs)

Identifying Biases and Assumptions

Replace this text with your response to the following: Identify at least three biases someone could have and/or assumptions someone could make about the scenario. For example, are there any pre-drawn conclusions that someone might have about the industry, groups of people, or business practices that are discussed in the scenario? (
Note: It is important to identify these so that you can construct interview questions that are unbiased.) (75–150 words, or 1–2 paragraphs)

Interview Questions

Replace this text with your response to the following: Based on the above, develop at least five interview questions that you would ask of the people involved in the scenario, and explain what insights you would hope to gain from each question. Additionally, if there are any other questions that you would only ask specific individuals, identify what those questions would be and to whom you would ask them. (225–375 words, or 3–5 paragraphs)

Filling in the Gaps

Industry Analysis

Replace this text with your response to the following: Analyze the industry in which the scenario is based and explain some common challenges or considerations that apply to that industry. Explain how some of those insights might impact the situation in the scenario you selected. (150–225 words, or 2–3 paragraphs)

Responses to Interview Questions

Replace this text with your response to the following: Return to the interview questions you developed and do one of the following: (approximately 225–300 words, or 3–4 paragraphs, per interview)

• Create a “transcript” of each subject’s interview, including the exact response you imagine each interviewee giving if you had actually conducted the interview.

• Create a comprehensive notes section that includes major points you would have documented from your interviews. This could be a bulleted list of points or a narrative summary about each interview.

Define the Problem

List of Issues

Replace this text with your response to the following: Create a list of all the known and potential issues from the scenario. For each item you list, explain how critical it is to address it, if at all. Then, narrow down the list and choose which issues are the main ones. (approximately 150–225 words, or 2–3 paragraphs)

Effects of Issues

Replace this text with your response to the following: Analyze what potential consequences and/or benefits could result from either addressing or failing to address the issues that are faced in the scenarios. (150–225 words, or 2–3 paragraphs)

Statement of the Business Problem

Replace this text with your response to the following: Compose a 1- to 2-sentence statement that defines the business problem presented in the scenario. In other words, how would you phrase the problem in a relatable way?

Part 2: Solving the Problem

Ideate

Brainstorm Ideas

Replace this text with your response to the following: Using the brainstorming technique, assemble at least 10 ideas to solve the problem you defined.

Note: Keep in mind that you would not need to implement every idea you suggest. The purpose is to generate new and creative ideas, not to develop 10 perfect ideas. Your brainstorm ideas should be realistic in the sense that they are humanly possible, but at this point you should not censor your ideas nor evaluate them to determine their feasibility in terms of costs, resources, time constraints, et cetera.

Additional Ideation Technique

Replace this text with your response to the following: Using an additional ideation technique (e.g., worst possible idea, S.C.A.M.P.E.R., zero draft, etc.), develop at least one additional idea. Describe the process you went through to develop your idea(s), including: (150–225 words, or 2–3 paragraphs)

• The name of your selected ideation technique

• The steps you took to perform the technique, including the results of each step

• The final result of the technique (i.e., the idea[s] you developed)

• Your thoughts on the process for the technique

Ideas to Develop & Ideas to Discard

Replace this text with your response to the following: After developing your ideas, classify them into two categories: ones you will develop and ones you will discard. Explain why you decided to develop the ones in the first category and explain why you discarded the ones in the second category. (150–225 words, or 2–3 paragraphs)

Prototype

Proposed Solution

Replace this text with your response to the following: Describe your proposed solution, including how it incorporates positive social change. (75–150 words, or 1–2 paragraphs)

Considerations for Implementation

Replace this text with your response to the following: In order to feasibly implement the solution, analyze what would need to be considered. For instance, what resources (people, financial, etc.) would be involved? Or, what internal and/or external organizational changes or efforts would need to be undertaken (restructuring, hiring, etc.)? (150–225 words, or 2–3 paragraphs)

Organizational Support for Successful Implementation

Replace this text with your response to the following: Analyze what those within the organization can do to increase the odds of the plan being implemented successfully. For example, what could they put in place to ensure success? (75–150 words, or 1–2 paragraphs)

References

Include appropriately formatted references to a minimum of four scholarly sources to support the statements made in your design document. Please refer to the Academic Writing Expectations Checklist for more information.