Reference no: EM132183523

Critical Thinking in Analytics

Discussion: Problem Solving

Most big decisions take some thought. You probably would not want to buy a car without doing some research of your own. Analyzing data on the vehicle about features that are important to you is a likely task. You probably would take time to consider your budget and if you can afford the purchase before coming to a decision. Analytics is similar when looking to solve a business problem. You need to have critical thinking skills to identify and research the issue in order to find a solution. You should not just recommend a solution without thinking through the issue carefully.

This week you will learn how managers use analytics to solve business problems. You will learn how to think critically about problems, including the deployment of both inductive and deductive reasoning. You will also learn how to apply ethical considerations to analytical approaches.

Learning Objectives

Students will:
. Analyze the use of analytics in solving business problems
. Analyze the use of inductive and deductive reasoning for solving business problems
. Analyze the ethics of analytical approaches

Required Readings
. McLeod, M. S., Payne, G. T., & Evert, R. E. (2016). Organizational ethics research: A systematic review of methods and analytical techniques. Journal of Business Ethics, 134(3), 429-443. doi:10.1007/s10551-014-2436-9
. Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases
. O''Leary, D. E. (2016). Ethics for big data and analytics. IEEE Intelligent Systems, 31(4), 81-84. doi:10.1109/MIS.2016.70
. Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases
. Singmann, H., & Klauer, K. C. (2011). Deductive and inductive conditional inferences: Two modes of reasoning. Thinking & Reasoning, 17(3), 247-281. doi:10.1080/13546783.2011.572718
. Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases
. Vacek, J. E. (2009). Using a conceptual approach with concept mapping to promote critical thinking. Journal of Nursing Education, 48(1),

. Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases
. White, D. A. (2010). Gifted education: Thinking (with help from Aristotle) about critical thinking. Gifted Child Today, 33(3), 14-19.

. Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases

Discussion: Problem Solving

In order to use analytics, you have to analyze, and in order to analyze, you have to think critically. Critical thinking uses different mental techniques to break down complex problems into parts, isolate the core of the problem, determine a solution, and continually check the analysis and the solution against new evidence. Evaluating the problem and solution requires an understanding not just of the outcomes desired but also of the ethical constraints on the proposed solution; not every effective solution may be consistent with your values or the values of your organization.

Critical thinking, or reasoning, can be divided into two main types: inductive and deductive. Inductive reasoning involves drawing conclusions from observation, while deductive reasoning relies on inferring conclusions from premises. Managers and business leaders may need to deploy one or both kinds of reasoning in order to deal with problems effectively.

To prepare:
. Review the Learning Resources, focusing on critical thinking and problem solving.
. Consider how managers use inductive and deductive reasoning to solve business problems and support managerial decision making.
With these thoughts in mind:

Post at least two examples of how managers can use analytics to formulate and solve business problems and support managerial decision making. Include in your discussion references to inductive and deductive reasoning for solving business problems.

Assignment: Ethics and Analytics

Analytics and the use of data in solving business problems often runs into ethical problems, just as other elements of business decisions do. Researchers who work with computers and big data have developed codes of ethics to govern their work, and business leaders can learn from these researchers about how to solve ethical dilemmas when using analytics to tackle business problems.

To prepare:
. Review the Learning Resources, focusing on ethics in analytics.
. Conduct your own research on examples of cases where analytics were used in an unethical way.

In 2-3 pages:
Write a paper on the importance of ethics in analytics. Include 2-3 examples of unethical approaches that have been used to benefit a company or individual. Finally, discuss how unethical uses of analytics can be avoided.