Wk 4 Assignment

Running Head: Critical Analysis of a Scholarly Article

Critical Analysis of a Scholarly Article

Nikia Benjamin

Walden University

Dr. Sherrie Lewis

July 22, 2012

Strategic Thinking: A Learning Model

“Strategic thinking focuses on finding and developing unique opportunities to create value by enabling a provocative and creative dialogue among people who can affect a company’s direction” (Center for Applied Research, 2001). The article “describes and relates theoretical concepts and empirical work to comprise a model” of strategic thinking on the individual level (Casey & Goldman, 2010). The spotlight is on how individuals learn to think strategically, instead of how they create strategy on the organizational level. The ability to think strategically has been proven, through various studies, to be an important skill for managers to posses at any organizational level; however, none of these studies have focused on how to implement strategic thinking.

Training material identifies specific learners by their role in the organization, but do not discuss their history with the organization or, another important factor, their leaning style. The learning process is discussed as being important but no specific information is given on why it is important or “on how individuals develop their ability to think strategically” (Casey & Goldman, 2010). Analytical, intuitive, reflective and creative are terms that have been used to describe strategic thinkers, yet there is no differentiation between what makes these characteristics applicable to strategic thinkers and not others.

According to Casey and Goldman, strategic thinking is based on five elements: the process of strategic thinking, individual differences, work experiences, organizational influences and knowledge creation. “Strategic thinking is an individual activity undertaken to benefit organizations” (Casey & Goldman, 2010). Effective learning models incorporate practice and...