Analytical Thinking. Artifact 2: Analytical Thinking in 4 Steps

Why this artefact was Included

I wanted to continue to expand my understanding of how analytical thinking is done.

The Career Force (2019). Analytical Thinking in 4 Steps. YouTube. Available at: https://youtu.be/uV18HsZRdk0?si=MwrpZzU6ZXV4TlL1 [Accessed 7 Nov. 2024].

Analytical thinking helps to simplify complex topics in a routine way. It can be used to solve problems from all spheres of personal and professional life.
- Identify the problem: What do you need to solve. Make sure you are solving the whole problem and not only a small part.
- Determine your approach: How are you going to solve the problem? Figure out what problem solving approach is going to be most appropriate. What tools, techniques, or methods will you use. What data do you need? Are there resources or people that you need to include? Strategies how you with solve a problem makes the entire problem-solving process easier and allows you to go through the logical thinking of how to solve it and then supplement it with information you need to get the solution. You may break the problem into multiple parts which have to be solved which then takes care of the bigger issue at hand,
- Analyze the problem: Use the tools, techniques, or methods and data that you have gathered. You may use some assumptions, make note of these so that if the solution does not work these are the places you can go and change to get the desired outcome.
- Get the answer: Now that you have gathered and analysed the information, what is you solution. You are making the data and information actionable.

This artifact provided me with steps that gave me clarity as to where I can begin with practice analytical thinking.