Critical Thinking and Decision Making
Critical thinking is an invaluable asset that some people possess. It is the ability to objectively analyze an issue or situation and form a good judgment. The process of making a decision is an integral part of solving a problem. Hence, critical thinking is a technique in which a person can employ to help in the decision-making process. Critical thinking is a skill that many can acquire during the learning process while in school. But unfortunately, the schools have become a place where the students repeat what the textbook or the teacher says.
According to Paul and Elder (1990), this only prevents serious thinking about what they learn. The main goal of the decision-making process is to come to valid conclusions in which critical thinking validates the soundness of it. Employing critical thinking in the decision-making process can encourage the participation of the people who the decision is likely to affect. I say this because critical thinking does away with assumptions.
People are more likely to participate when they are sure that there are no preconceived assumptions during the decision-making process. It recognizes the premises, and this enables people to separate opinions from facts. It also helps in evaluating the arguments for and against a particular decision, meaning that when people participate, they have an equal chance of sharing their arguments. They then objectively assess the arguments accurately. Finally, critical thinking encourages people to draw valid conclusions that will assist in coming to a decision. Depending on the available evidence, people can gather information and develop a logical solution that favors everyone who the decision will affect.
The structure of the criminal justice system and organization culture can facilitate critical thinking skills in the making of decisions in various ways. How it can achieve this consists of having or establishing an organizational culture that strives to train law enforcement officers on critical thinking skills. Critical thinking is a skill that people only acquire through learning and constant practice. By establishing an organizational culture that facilitates this learning, it can ensure that it promotes and cultivates critical thinking in everyone in the criminal justice system and organization.
It can also enhance critical thinking skills by appointing leaders who possess the skill and will influence others in acquiring and practicing it. Leadership plays a very pivotal role in organizations. Leaders have to be people who inspire others and push them to emulate the right values. Leaders who possess critical thinking skills will positively affect the people that they lead when making decisions, and they would also demand the same from them.
However, the criminal justice agency and organizational culture can also hinder critical thinking in making decisions—how they can do this include not having a diverse workforce. People from different backgrounds and cultures have different perspectives, views, and opinions. By not having a diverse workforce in the agency, there is no difference in perspectives that might help in making viable decisions that affect different people. It also hinders critical thinking skills in decision making by having a bureaucratic culture and organizational structure. A bureaucratic culture is too formal in that information only comes from the top, and it does not promote critical thinking in making decisions. The people at the top make decisions and pass on instructions to individuals.