Trends, Networks, and Critical

Thinking in the 21st Century Quarter 3

– Module 3: Understanding Local
Networks
After going through this module, you are expected to:
1. Explain strategic analysis and intuitive thinking (HUMSS_MCT12-Ic-e-
2)
2. Apply strategic analysis (HUMSS_MCT12-Ic-e-3)
3. Apply intuitive thinking in solving a problem in the community using a
map of social networks (HUMSS_MCT12-Ic-e-4; HUMSS_MCT12-Ic-e-6)
 LESSON 1: Explain strategic analysis and
intuitive thinking
Whenever people are faced with different kinds of problems, it is very
crucial to think of means of addressing them and preventing
those circumstances from happening again. But solutions are greatly
influenced by the manner in which one defines the problem and adopts
a solution based on his/her own understanding. There are basically two
different perspectives in addressing the problem
1. Analytical thinking
is a kind of logical thinking that addresses the problems or issues by
breaking it into its component parts. It uses scientific methods of research
and adopts frameworks or models to solve the problems. Managers, especially
those running big companies or projects, tend to use this thinking strategy to
pursue changes in directing plans and goals. Analytical thinking focuses and
deals with concerns at a particular time. It also contains time, is
deconstructive, but is subject to disorientation, brain-centered and tends to
the abstract. It is considered efficient in the following conditions: sufficient
time, relatively static conditions, a clear differentiation between the observer and
the observed. It is best suited for dealing with complexities and works best
where there are established criteria for analysis (for example, rules of law). It
requires an explanation, seeks the best option, and can be taught in classroom to
beginners
2. Intuitive thinking
is the kind of thinking that helps one understand reality by perception or
intuition without logic or analysis. It derived its confidence from experiences.
There are no analytical steps or methods but based its action from observed
indicators in the organizational environment. It allows individual to develop his
own mode of solution in addressing strategic issues. Intuitive approaches are
personal and custom-made. It some-times derived a problem-based solution
that is not quite easy to share and at times too difficult to copy or adapt.
Managers utilized the power of persuasion to get people agree rather than the
logical sense of coming up with an action. Intuition works best where the
observer has the same experience in the particular situation. It is difficult to
teach in the classroom, has the tendency to work on feelings in favor of a more
workable solution. Intuition is experience translated by expertise to produce
rapid action.
Charles Parselle, founding partner of Centers for Excellence in Dispute Resolution -
CEDRS.COM , presented his comparison of the components of Analytical and
Intuitive thinking.
Analytical process usually involves the following steps:

• A. Identifying the problems and the issues surrounding them.

• B. Information gathering or Data collection
• C. Developing and Proposing solutions
• D. Trying out solutions or new ideas based on data collection
• E. Evaluating if the solutions worked and taking necessary measures.
Let Us Practice Direction: Take a look at the picture and examine its details.
In your notebook, construct a descriptive paragraph about the picture. Also, answer
the questions that follow.
Guide Questions:
• 1. What do the children do?
• 2. Do you think they have access to education?
• 3. How can the government and other social institutions help them? Answer
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Things to Remember! There are three ways of discovering
non-intuitive things. The following are as follows:
• 1. Gaining more experience. Experience is a great teacher. More
experiences you have the easier it is for you to see the similarities
between new ideas and previous learning. Experience teaches you to
identify if various kind of projects, objectives or problems are
straight forward or not. It also teaches you which one employs
non-intuitive (or counter intuitive) issues to address. In other
words, experience hones your intuition. It can make non-intuitive
thinking become intuitive thinking.
• 2. Experimentation. Experimentation can help you uncover
inconsistencies. Tinkering is a great way to discover something that
isn’t consistent with what you thought.
• 3. Learn by reading, studying & teaching and learning process with
your mentors. The more you build your foundation, the more you
learn about the nuances, differences and subtleties of a wide
array of mysteries. Then, intuitive thinking and non-intuitive
thinking become easier in the real life context.
Direction: Read each statement carefully. Write TRUE if the
statement is true and FALSE if the statement is false. Write your
answers before the number.

• 1. Strategic analysis and intuitive thinking both use reason but in different
ways.
• 2. Strategic analysis works best only for bigger organizations like business
institution.
• 3. Intuitive thinking is not accepted in the scientific world.
• 4. Rational reasoning is better than intuitive thinking.
• 5. Critical tools are needed in instinctive thinking.
• 6. Intuitive thinking is hunch-based and spontaneous.
• 7. Intuition is something known as infused knowledge.
• 8. Strategic analysis must be used always to ensure success in life.
• 9. Individuals engaged in strategic analysis apply all cognitive
processes in the orientation towards attainment of success in future.
• 10. Only the internal environment is important in strategic analysis
• 11. The honing of a critical mind must start at an early age
• 12. In a business organization, strategic analysis may mean
understanding of its external and internal settings.
• 13. Analytical thinking views things simultaneously in a nonlinear way.
• 14. Experience can be considered as a tool of intuitive thinking.
• 15. SWOT and PEST are good examples of analytical tools.
Lesson 2 Apply strategic analysis
Let Us Study
• Everyday we make choices in our lives. Sometimes our decisions are based on impulses that we need to face along
with the unfavorable consequences of our actions. We cannot afford to commit the same mistakes at all times. This is why
there are institutions that create strategic analysis at least intuitive thinking, if the latter makes sense. According to Urgel,
E. (2017), Strategic analysis is the process of examining the organization’s surroundings and resources to better
formulate a strategy to meet the desired objectives and improved the organization’s performance. It is the
understanding of an organization’s external and internal environments. It also deals with the creation and better utilization of
resources in the pursuit of their objectives and priorities. Such understanding is drawn from the facts data, and instructions at
hand. Strategic analysis, for example, can be done by an organization to analyze its losing performance. It is based on
data and information about the internal profile of its employees and their capabilities and work attitudes. It can be done by
the organization to investigate the external profile of its surrounding, opportunities, and possible rivals. Moreover,
intuitive thinking is sensing or knowing without using rational processes such as reading facts and instructions. According to
the dictionary, intuition is something that is known or understood without proof or evidence. In short, intuitive is making
choices and decisions according to one’s hunch and gut feeling without knowing the reason why. Good intuition
results from long years of knowledge and experience which enable you to comprehend how people think, act, and react,
perceive and interpret, and interact with one another. A critical mind or analytical mind usually exercises strategic thinking.
Samantha Howland (2015) identified six elements of strategic thinking designed to encourage strategic leadership
among today’s executives. It is drawn from a study of more than 20,000 executives in more than 175 countries.
The six key elements are abilities to anticipate, challenge, decide, interpret, learn, and align
• 1. The ability to anticipate enables the executives to not only focus on
the current situation but also to look at the future. They should
monitor the environment to foresee significant changes in the
industry to prepare them for possible threats as well as
opportunities. For instance, an executive who keeps abreast with
trends and engages in trendspotting is more likely to be open to
product changes or to beef up the company’s product strength
in anticipation of trend. An example is when a garment executive
spots a consumer preference for plaid print, he or she gradually
reduces the production of apparels with floral design and shifts to
plaid print.
• 2. The ability to challenge involves raising questions instead of merely
accepting information as it comes. The purpose of raising questions is
to trace the root causes of problems, to challenge existing beliefs, and
to find out biases and possible manipulation of the situation.
Probing and investigation may also be employed.
• 3. The ability to interpret is shown by testing a variety of hypotheses
as well as comparing and contrasting certain data prior to
making decisions on particular issues. The executive avoids
jumping into conclusions without sound basis.
• 4. The ability to decide enables to executive to make a stand
with courage and conviction despite incomplete information at hand.
The executive combines speed and quality in doing this for them to
avoid indecision or “analysis paralysis which prevent a leader from
acting fast, thereby missing chances of opportunities.
• 5. The ability to align enables the executive to have different
divergent viewpoints, opinions, and agenda to attain common
goals and to pursue mutual interests. Open communication and
dialogue will help address the problem of misalignment and build
trust leading to consensus and agreements
• 6. The ability to learn is demonstrated by an executive who accepts
feedback, constructive criticism, and even failure which are altogether
viewed as source of critical and valuable insights. He or she shows
willingness to immediately return to the right course when going off tract.
Failures are considered lessons for success.
Strategic analysis is useful not only to an organization but also to an
individual such as student like you. Your current situation in striving to finish
senior high school can be assessed by the following: (a) knowing your
strengths such as your competencies and values, weaknesses such as
negative attitude and needs to be filled, (b) threats such as events and
situations that prevent you from focusing on your studies, and other factors
that can help you improve your skills.
• Are you failing or getting poor grades? What good habits can you develop
to address this problem? Whom can you approach to help you improve
your grades? Strategic analysis can be a way to turn your weakness into
strengths and to take advantage of situations that will boost your
confidence as a student. It will guide you in staying on course toward
finishing senior high school. The honing and nurturing of a critical mind or
strategic thinking must start at an early age. Students like you should be
provided with opportunities to develop this ability for self-improvement.
It can also guide you in giving service to others (for example as an
officer in the student council). In such case, the students develop strategic
thinking which is reflected in his or her abilities to anticipate, decide,
challenge, learn, align, and interpret.
4 key qualities of strategic thinkers
Bring to your mind a professional leader you admire. Have you chosen
them because of their innovation, intelligence or ability to engage
audiences? Or maybe you like their capacity to critique process
and procedure while still being receptive to feedback and change? If
your model leader possesses any of the above qualities, they’re a
strategic thinker. Here are four qualities that all strategic thinkers
possess, and continue to work on throughout their lives:
• 1. They’re always learning Strategic thinking skills are developed by
committing to constant learning and self-improvement. Whether it’s
learning from their own experiences, the experiences of others,
books, presentations, networks, conferences or junior colleagues,
strategic thinkers don’t dismiss any potential sources of education.
• 2. They always seek advice from others In the spirit of being able to
prepare for the future and make constant improvements, strategic
thinkers’ welcome feedback and advice from others. They test
ideas and concepts and ensure that criticisms are examined and
incorporated where relevant. This process makes their plans and
strategies as robust and steadfast as possible.
• 3. They’re not afraid to take risks Great strategic thinkers understand
that professional excellence doesn’t always emerge from a cookie-
cutter approach. After careful consideration, they take risks on new
ideas, innovative solutions and unique pitches, prepared for both
success and failure, and always willing to learn from their mistakes.
4. They never forget organizational purpose Whether a business
builds intuitive websites for clients or sells diverse share portfolios,
strategic thinkers will never neglect their purpose or people. If the
strategic thinking and planning doesn’t revolve around these two
key elements, it has failed to be strategic at all
Let Us Practice
Direction: Think of a certain problem and think of the different
ways on how to solve it by using strategic analysis.
Let Us Remember
Things to Remember!

In its simplest form, strategic thinking is an ability to plan for the

future. It’s the capacity to prepare strategies and conjure ideas that
will both cope with changing environments and consider the
various challenges that lie ahead. Candidates that possess strategic
thinking skills will be seen as top talent, and it’s a quality that makes
many managers, directors and executives the successful leaders they
are
Lesson 3:
Apply intuitive thinking in solving a problem in the
community using a map of social networks
Intuitive thinking involves a more spontaneous, instinctive, and
unplanned process of solving a problem. Evaluation of the situation and
the perceived alternative course of action are quick and board.
Actions and decisions spring from hunches and gut feeling based on
unpremeditated ideas or experiences rather from facts and hard data.
This type of thinking tends to be imaginative and more applicable in
situations where facts are insufficient and previous related decisions
are not readily available.
Intuitive thinkers do certain things which other do not. Carolyn
Gregorie (2014), senior writer of The Huffington Post provided the Ten
Things Highly Intuitive People Do Differently. The following activities are
as follows:
• (1) Listening to an inner voice. They pay attention to intuition and
allow it to guide them.
• (2) Taking time to be alone and to reflect. Spending time in solitude is
their way of engaging in deeper thoughts and creative thinking. It is
also called “mindfulness” which means looking into one’s current
experience without making judgement
• (3) Listening to their bodies. They tune in to their bodies for gut feeling and
physical sensation or emotion associated with intuition. (4) Observing
everything. They take note of the occurrence of odd things and keep an
eye on the frequency of coincidences, unexpected connections, and
instantaneous decisions or actions done. (5) Paying attention to their
dreams. It refers to the way of getting in touch with their “unconscious
thinking process” and of capturing information on how to live their lives.
• (6) Connecting deeply with others and staying in a positive mood. They can
read a person’s mind through his or her words, feelings, and actions.
Avoiding negative emotions helps boost their intuitive judgement.
Analytical thinking applied in strategic analysis is brain-centered and focused. It
deals with one thing and is concerned with time. It is linear and inclined toward the
abstract. It efficiently works in a condition with sufficient time, relative stability, and
established criteria for analysis such as rules. It comes in handy when an
explanation is needed. The process can be taught and learned in the classroom.
Intuitive thinking, on the other hand, possesses characteristics which mostly run in
contrast to analytical thinking. It is heart-centered, unfocused, and is not time-
bound. It views many things simultaneously, is nonlinear, and is inclined toward the
concrete and the real. It efficiently works in dynamic conditions, under time
pressure, and is instantaneous. It works well when the observer has gained
experience in a particular situation and he is ready to act on hunches and feeling,
especially when an explanation is not needed.
According to science, intuitive thinking happens in a region of our brain close to the pineal gland. In
other words, it lines up with the middle of your forehead, between your eyebrows. You can’t use
intuitive thinking whenever you want, though. It only shows up in “moments of inspiration”. Plus, it
really works. It’s what some people call doctors’ “clinical eye” or being a “visionary”.

The following are some well-known people of intuition

(Timeforchange.org):
✓ Albert Einstein (Theoretical physicist who is widely considered one of
the greatest physicists of all time; best known for the theory of
relativity, Nobel prize in Physics for his explanation of the photoelectric
effect and” for his services to Theoretical Physics”):
• The only real valuable thing is intuition.
• There is no logical way to the discovery of these elemental laws.
There is only one way of intuition, which is helped by a feeling for the
order lying behind the appearance.
• ✓ Alexis Carrel (French surgeon, biologist, and eugenicist; Nobel prize in
Physiology or Medicine):
• • All great men are gifted with intuition. They know without reasoning or
analysis what they need to know.
• • Intuition comes very close to clairvoyance; it appears to be the
extrasensory perception of reality.
• ✓ Lao Tzu (ancient Chinese philosopher):
• The power of intuitive understanding will protect you from harm until the end
of your days.
✓ Anne Wilsom Schaef (writer and lecturer):
• Trusting our intuition often saves us from disaster
The 4 Types of Intuitive Thinking
1. Emotional intuitive thinking. This has to do with your ability to immediately
pick up on other people’s personality traits or emotional states. You can see who
they are, or how they are, without them having to say anything.
2. Mental intuitive thinking. This is about finding an immediate answer to a
problem, without analyzing it. It’s very common in people with jobs that require
quick decisions, like firefighters or bomb technicians.
3. Psychic intuitive thinking. This means having the ability to choose the best path
to overcome a personal difficulty, without putting much mental effort into it. It also
means being able to pick up on social and work-related dynamics.
4. Spiritual intuitive thinking. This has to do with states of enlightenment” or
“revelations”. They’re more of an experience than a fact. Buddhists talk about this
kind of intuition more than anyone else, which has given it a mystical quality.
Let Us Practice
Direction: Study the given case and proposed an intuitive
thinking-based solution. Do this in your answer sheet
Mr. Gonzales just return from abroad after recovering from COVID
19 infection. A mechanical engineer by profession, he decided to stay
and work in the Philippines for good. But it will take him 1 year before
he can work again. He has 2 high school and a prima-ry school children
in an exclusive school. His savings are almost depleted because part of
his medication and expenses of returning home is not shouldered
by the company he is serving
f you are Mr. Gonzales, what Intuitive thinking based solution would you consider and why?
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Things to Remember!

Intuitive thinking is basically the kind of thinking that helps you

understand reality in the moment, without logic or analysis.
There’s no language involved in it, either. It’s entirely about signs and
sensations. Most of the time, it goes against whatever we might think
of as “rational”. Intuitive thinking is “quick and ready insight”
(Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary). Intuitive decision making is for
more than using common sense because it involves additional
sensors to perceive and get aware of the information from
outside. sometimes, it is referred to as gut feeling, sixth sense,
inner sense, instinct, inner voice, spiritual guide, etc.
Thank you for listening :)