Reflective Essay: Critical Thinking and Managerial Decision Making

This reflective essay explores the student's learning journey in a management course, emphasizing the development of critical thinking and managerial decision-making skills. The essay highlights the importance of critical thinking in analyzing information, problem-solving, and effective communication, particularly in the context of a rapidly changing technological environment. The student discusses the application of these skills in their workplace, demonstrating improved decision-making, language, presentation skills, and creativity. The essay also details the student's self-reflection process, enhanced by the DISC tool, revealing insights into their behavioral styles, strengths, and areas for improvement. The student reflects on key concepts from weekly learning activities and the DISC tool's impact, highlighting the skills gained, including inference, research, and bias identification. The essay concludes with a discussion on the future application of these learnings in both their career and personal life, emphasizing the transformative impact of the course on their overall approach to decision-making, goal setting, and personal development. The student highlights how the acquired knowledge will enable them to be a better employee, leader and person in general.

Reflective Essay 1
REFLECTIVE ESSAY-CRITICAL THINKING AND MANAGERIAL DECISION
MAKING
By Name
Course
Instructor
Institution
Location
Date

Reflective Essay 2
Reflective Essay-Critical Thinking and Managerial Decision Making
Lessons from MGT20135
The management course has been extremely insightful since it has enabled me to learn
the importance of critical thinking and making managerial decisions in an efficient manner. The
course has had various workshops that have enhanced the lessons learned in class hence helping
me to understand the importance of making critical decisions, especially in an organizational or
business setting. Through this course, I have been able to learn that critical thinking is the ability
I should analyze my thinking and present my ideas, rather than just presenting my personal
thoughts without giving deep thought. One can gain immense benefits once they are able to gain
critical thinking skills. I have been able to learn that critical thinking means that I think in a
manner that is self-disciplined, self-monitored and self-directed. I am also apple to self-correct
myself when my thinking is wrong. Through thinking critically, I can achieve effective
communication and problem-solving skills which are essential in different settings.
This course has changed my way of thinking when at work since I now view things
differently and this has made me a better employee. The current global work environment is
driven by numerous changes in the technology area hence meaning that one must adapt to
changes quickly. This means that there is great demand for one to have flexible intellectual skills
and the ability to do an analysis of information while at the same time linking together different
sources of knowledge for the purposes of problem-solving. A san employee, I can now think
faster and make effective decisions after running through it in a rational manner. I am also able
to find the link between different sources of knowledge and use this when it comes to solving
any issues that I experience at my place of work.
This course on critical thinking and managerial decision making has enabled me to
enhance my language and presentation skills. Previously, I have been extremely shy and
stammer a lot when it comes to presentations both in class or in the workplace due to lack of
confidence. I have now greatly improved my sills and I am able to make an effective
presentation before my colleagues in class or workmates. My creativity has also been enhanced

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since from analyzing problems, I am able to come up with creative ideas which are very useful in
the decision-making process. This has led to more efficient processes at my workplace.
This course has enabled me to be a person who does self-reflection often. I can reflect
every day on how my day was and what I achieved or did wrong, and come up with solutions of
making myself better. This has helped to be able to think about what values I have and the
decisions that I make. I have become a better person due to self-reflection.
Two Concepts from Weekly Learning Activities
The lessons learned each week have been key in enabling me to be more aware of factors
that influence critical thinking and decision-making skills. The lessons from week 1 have
enabled me to know the meaning of critical thinking and the benefits that can be achieved from
the same. I have learned that it can help one make clear and fast decisions. Week 2 lessons have
enabled me to learn about simple deductive versus inductive reasoning. Further, I have learned
about automatic and critical thinking skills and how pattern, context, and recognition is
important in critical thinking. I have also been able to learn more about the theories presented by
Kuhn and Popper, and how each of these differs. Week3 saw me learn about the science of
personality and the ten tools of clarity. I also learned how clarity can be used in problem-solving
and how inductive thinking and premises are important aspects of the critical thinking process.
In week 4, we watched a GMAC video on reflective tools hence enabling learn lessons on
self-reflection. I also learned about the relationship between self-awareness and leadership. In
week 5, I could learn about how leaders are able to thrive by understanding who they are and the
importance of being a critical thinker as a leader. Week 6 saw me learning about the contexts in
decision making like simple, complex, chaotic and unclear, I also learned about upside and
downside risk and using this in evaluating decisions.
Lessons on Self from DISC Tool
The Disc Tool was significant in enabling to identify my natural and adjusted behavioral
styles in different settings. The tool has enabled me to know that I am highly competent in my
career field and I always take the initiative to learn new things and to improve the way I work.
This has been brought about by the high interest I have in quality control, my patience in
learning and my natural curiosity. I agree with this since, at my workplace, I place a high

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emphasis on quality and this has made me selected to head several projects. Through my natural
curiosity, I have been able to take an initiative and learn two other roles at my place of work
hence enable me to be a rounded person. I have been selected as employee of the month a few
times and successfully led my team to implementation and completion of projects.
The DISC tool has enabled me to learn that I am a person who listens to others and is
very patient with them even though I set high achievement standards for them. This also
emanates from my desire to always ensure quality. I agree with this since I always give my team
high targets and encourage and motivate them into achieving the same. This has enabled my
team to achieve quality standards whenever we are doing anything. I always like it when the
whole team is on the same page, hence I listen to all employees and come up with ways of
teaching the slow learners to make sure that they catch up and are not left behind in any way. I
always motivate staff who may not meet the required standards or fail to perform their duties as
required.
The DISC tool has also taught me that I have high expectations for myself and therefore
set the same standards for the team. As much as I set high standards, I coach my team into
meeting them rather than giving them ultimatums. This has enabled my department to be one of
the best in the company since the employees are used to high standards being set and they have
also learned to be self-motivated to achieve the same. My friendly side has enabled me to bring a
sense of humor into the working environment hence creating positivity and enabling employees
to be enthusiastic. The sense of humor helps in breaking the tension in situations that may lead
employees to feel anxious and tense.
The DISC tool has further brought out my independent side. I like to work independently
even though when the situation demands, I can effectively delegate responsibilities. Working
independently has enabled me to be able to arrange my duties daily and achieve a lot in the
workplace. It may, however, be better to sometimes work as a team and not to make all the
decisions in an independent manner.
The DISC tool also portrays me as a positive person who encourages other people in the
workplace. I am a naturally sincere person. This has enabled me to be positive even when we are
facing a stressful situation at the place of work. I always encourage my team members and
enable them to go through the tough phase as a team and this has enabled them to become
stronger and learn how to face and manage any situation that they may come across.

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One of my negative sides, as shown by the DISC tool, is that I tend to vocally express my
disappointment whenever one of the employees does not meet certain standards. Instead of
telling those who can influence the situation in a positive manner I express my discontent to
those who lack control over the situation. I have learned that I can achieve more positive results
by approaching the right people and expressing my reasons for disappointment. This can
significantly help to improve the situation.
Lessons on Skills and New Knowledge
Through this course, I have been able to improve certain skills that have enhanced my
understanding of new knowledge development and critical thinking. I have been able to gain
inference skills, in that I can easily draw conclusions from any information that is presented to
me and this enables me to make rational decisions. I can apply the steps of critical thinking in
enabling me to effectively draw conclusions from any situation. Further to this, I have been able
to develop research skills. Whenever there are two different arguments about a situation, I can
effectively research and now which argument best applies to whatever situation we may have. I
have also gained bias identification skills hence I am able to handle a situation objectively
without being biased towards anyone. Furthermore, I have been able to learn how to look beyond
the face value of everything and go beyond this by being curious and digging deeper. This has
enabled me to discover any underlying issues, for example, unfinished projects or misrepresented
facts while in the workplace.
Conclusion-Future Use of Learnings in Career and Life
In conclusion, the lessons I have learned through this course can be used in my career and
personal life. Critical thinking has enabled me to be more aware of my life in terms of what I
would like to achieve and where I would like to be as life goes by. I have come up with short and
long-term goals and this has enabled me to live my life in a better manner. I have also become a
better employee since I have been able to evaluate my weaknesses and strengths. I am now
working on my weaknesses and seeking to improve on my strengths. I have been able to
encourage friends, family, and employees hence also enabling them to learn more about critical
thinking and the way they make decisions. This course has been a significant game-changer in
my life.