Bringing Critical Thinking into CPI

SUMMARY: As manager’s operational problems become our job to fix, the ability to correctly identify the source of our organizational pitfalls requires a distinct set of critical thinking skills. Once the problem is correctly identified using critical reason we can then creatively solve the problem. Develop your critical thinking skills and improve your organization’s overall responsiveness.

Too often, managers approach operating problems solely from a creative perspective, searching for solutions before they have clearly identified the source of the problem.

Such a mistake can make continuous process improvement efforts -- whether in plants or office environments -- frustrating for both staff and managers. The solution focuses on the wrong problem so the problem recurs.

Applying TQM to Continuous Improvement

Ideally, when faced with a problem, you should first be sure of the cause. And TQM tools are effective in helping identify the nature of a problem as well as measure the impact on the problem of remedial efforts.

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