Fostering a Culture of Learning and Critical Thinking in an Organization's constant learning constitutes a fundamental success factor in its knowledge management and learning systems. Promoting a culture of critical thinking and learning in any organization requires an understanding of the concept. Bailin (2002) defines critical thinking as the process through which people test arguments and claims to determine their merit. Basically, the process involves investigation, interpretation and final judgment.
Fostering critical thinking and learning in an organization requires incorporating the various aspects of the process in behaviours and interactions of the people. The ability to think critically entails three fundamental things. First, people need to develop an attitude of considering subjects and problems that they encounter in a thoughtful manner. Second, people require cultivating knowledge of the various methods of reasoning and logical enquiry. Ultimately, people need the relevant skills to apply the methods of logical enquiry and thinking (Bailin, 2002).
One of the methods of fostering critical thinking and continuous learning in my organization is by facilitating cooperation and collaboration between members. Collaboration apparently provides opportunities for misconceptions and disagreements to surface (Paul & Elder, 2006). Consequently, the opportunity for correction through logic and reasoning is presented. Collaboration also offers a vehicle through which the members of an organization attain requisite acculturation to the institution environment, thus helping them comprehend the expectations expected of them.
Explicit instruction also offers one of the main ways of fostering critical thinking and learning in any organization. Evidently, the development of critical thinking skills and related abilities are most unlikely if there is no explicit instruction (Facione, 2000). The explicit instruction needs to attend to the various dispositions and affective components the members of the organization need developing. Openly, instructing the members of an organization on critical thinking and reasoning also provides the groundwork upon which the related skills and abilities will be developed.
Thought experiments also facilitate the development of a culture of constant learning and thinking in an organization. Further, thought experiments invite an organization’s members to engage in more active thinking (Paul & Elder, 2006). For instance, when dealing with unrealistic situations, they can focus on particular aspects of the situation to more directly explore the implications of the individual features of the problem. Facilitating engagement in thought experiments develops a culture of constant learning and reasoning in an organization in the sense that members do not shy away from difficult situations or problems, but confront them through reason.
Essential Traits
The development of a culture of learning and critical thinking relies critically on motivation and disposition. Members of an organization need to be driven for them to choose to learn and improve in their reasoning. Consequently, several habits or traits are essential in developing critical thinkers. Factors such as whether the organization’s members are reflective, purpose and self-corrective influence the development of a learning culture in an institution. Also, factors such as passivity, inattention, indifference among other traits might hinder learning or critical thinking in an organization. Overall, constant internal motivation and one’s disposition play a critical role in establishing learning and reasoning in an organization (Facione, 2000).
Ideal critical thinkers are habitually inquisitive, trustful or reason, flexible, open-minded, well-informed, and fair-minded. Other traits of critical thinkers include honesty while facing persona biases, clear about various issues, focused in inquiry, willingness to reconsider standpoints, and prudence while making judgments. Also, persistence in seeking results, orderliness in complex matters, reasonableness, as well as diligence in seeking the relevant information form essential traits of critical thinkers (Bailin, 2002).
Clearly, factors such as an internal drive to pursue and improve in learning, and curiosity form the crux of critical thinking tendency. Based on the demands for critical thinking in various roles in the organization, while considering candidates, these traits must be considered along with others. Such attributes make individuals successful, a factor that positively influences the entire organization. Apparently, the disposition of the organization’s members is the key to critical thinking and learning. If individual employees are not interested in learning, establishing a learning organization is virtually impossible.
Teaching the Essential Traits of Critical Thinking in an Organization
Explicit instruction, as stated earlier, can be used to teach critical thinking in an organization’s members. Group meetings also provide an efficient method of enhancing and practicing critical thinking in an organization (Paul & Elder, 2006). In addition, group assignments and committees support critical thinking and learning by focusing on discussions. The discussions build cohesive teams that question options before making decisions, seek alternative explanations and debate issues. By, using committee and group meetings, members of an organization can be taught and encouraged on how to become more focused thinkers by relating back to the main aim of issues discussions and questions.
The use of group and committee meetings, conferences and explicit instructions also teachers members of an organization on how to withhold their judgment of others without sufficient evidence. The end result of these exercises is more open-minded employees, capable of learning and critical thinking concerning all aspects of an organization. Such employees also exhibit greater willingness to alter their position and opinions to conform to the desired organizational culture.
Fostering Essential Traits of Critical Thinking in an Organization
Among the best ways of promoting the traits of critical thinking traits in an organization is through the use of incentives and various forms of rewards. Use of this approach ensures that the members of an organization are constantly motivated to exercise continuous learning and critical thinking. Assessing the critical thinking skills, can be done by using performance-based assessments can help foster the traits and culture of critical thinking in an organization by determining progress (Facione, 2000).
References
Bailin, S. (2002). Critical thinking and science education. Science & Education, 11(4), 361–375.
Facione, P. A. (2000). The disposition toward critical thinking: Its character, measurement, and relation to critical thinking skill. Informal Logic, 20(1), 61–84.
Paul, R. W., & Elder, L. (2006). Critical thinking: The nature of critical and creative thought.Journal of Developmental Education, 30(2), 34–35.
