Module Code - Title:
AH6002
-
CRITICAL THINKING FOR EFFECTIVE DECISION MAKING
Year Last Offered:
2025/6
Hours Per Week:
Grading Type:
N
Prerequisite Modules:
Rationale and Purpose of the Module:
The purpose of this module is to introduce students to critical thinking as the basis of effective decision making and a key component of decision intelligence. The module will explore whether enhanced levels of critical thinking can lead to enhanced quality of decision making, it be in industry, the public sector or in our own personal lives. The module has been developed following an extended design process involving industry partners.
Syllabus:
This module will be divided into three parts. First, it will introduce students to the core components of critical thinking, what it means as a concept and why it should be considered as relevant to the world of industry. It will also set out some of challenges facing effective critical thinking. The module will then consider the related concept and practice of decision making, the challenges encountered within individual and shared / collective decision making processes and the role of risk assessment. The module will also facilitate students to consider decision making in a data driven workplace. Finally, the module will reiterate the relationship between critical thinking and decision making and will introduce examples from industry and beyond, including contributions from practitioners
Learning Outcomes:
Cognitive (Knowledge, Understanding, Application, Analysis, Evaluation, Synthesis)
On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of the core concepts involved critical thinking and decision making
- Recognise the role of evidence, and the influence of bias / assumptions on decision making.
- Apply these core concepts to enable reflection of students own experiences and practices of thinking, analysis and decision making.
- Analyse the relationship between critical thinking and more effective decision making, particularly as it applies to the workplace
- Recognise the importance of data, both in critical thinking and decision making.
Affective (Attitudes and Values)
On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate an appreciation of the nature and impact of their own approaches to thinking and decision making in the work place
- demonstrate how their approaches to decision making and problem solving may have changed over time
- recognise the need for a more complex and intellectually challenging approach to critical thinking and decision making
Psychomotor (Physical Skills)
N/A
How the Module will be Taught and what will be the Learning Experiences of the Students:
This module will be delivered using a combination of interactive lectures and tutorials. The module will include a substantial component of facilitated, group based, discussion and assignment that will allow for closer collaboration and peer learning between and within the student cohort. The module will also included thinking and decision focused inputs from industry practitioners and also from the public sector for comparison purposes. This module is directly aligned with the UL graduate attributes given its core focus on critical, creative and knowledgeable decision making. It aims to develop agile and open minded graduates, who are responsive, responsible and innovative.
Research Findings Incorporated in to the Syllabus (If Relevant):
Prime Texts:
Hanscomb, Stuart (2023)
Critical Thinking: The Basics
, Routledge
Halpern and Dunn (2021)
Critial Thinking: A model of Intelligence for Solving Real WorldProblems,
, Journal of Intelligence 9, 22
Kallet M. (2014)
Think Smarter: Critical thinking to improve problem solving and decision making skills
, Wiley
Dwyer, Christopher P. Hogan, Michael J., Steward, Ian (2014)
An integrated critical thinkingframework for the 21stcentury,
, Thinking Skills and Creativity 12
Snowden D. and Boone M. (2007)
A Leader's Framework
for Decision Making
, Harvard Business Review, November 2007
Other Relevant Texts:
Programme(s) in which this Module is Offered:
MSCETITFA - COMMUNICATIONS, EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES AND INDUSTRY PRACTICES
Semester(s) Module is Offered:
Spring
Module Leader:
chris.g.mcinerney@ul.ie