Critical thinking must accompany us as essential in the Information Society, and in its alter ego, the so-called knowledge and innovation economy. It constitutes a growing demand in the daily task of translating information into solid and applicable knowledge, that is, of assigning meaning to signifiers, in order to learn, make decisions and act wisely. Without this rigorous thought we would let ourselves be carried away by the surrounding currents, renouncing part of the role that corresponds to us.
By referring to critical thinkers, we are doing so to those who think carefully, ensuring the validity of each inference, doubting their own perception of realities and also questioning the rigor and purpose of each information, before considering it good: they are people who, with the information, they are demanding and even, in a certain way, distrustful. There may be different opinions, and above all different interpretation of the words, but, avoiding assimilating critical thinking to skepticism or compulsive criticality, it is worth digging into its most accepted essence.
We cannot take leadership of our personal journey without cultivating this insightful and judicious way of thinking. When we consider others' syntheses or conclusions to be good, we are giving up prominence and renouncing our fullness as human beings. Undoubtedly, independence in thinking -critical thinking- constitutes a cardinal value, especially in those who have reached a sufficient degree of personal and professional development; We are not talking about joining critical currents or opposition militancies, but about controlling our thinking, about deploying quality control.
Inexcusable in the perception of realities, this self-controlled way of thinking would have to start with our own questioning, to better know ourselves; but without a doubt we need it equally to avoid false learning, evaluate the information with greater success, open our reason to new considerations, tackle complexity, hit the milestone (or hit the nail on the head) and reach better conclusions. We are aiming for quality in thinking, which reinforces our effectiveness and even our quality of life.
When speaking of the Information Society, we often refer simply to the computer revolution; but, beyond the much-postulated digital literacy, we have to develop our literacy or informational skill: one that, inseparable from lifelong learning, allows us to reach valuable and applicable knowledge for, and in pursuit of, better levels of productivity and competitiveness in companies.
Let me now recall a paragraph from The Delphi Report (1990), from the American Philosophical Association: “The ideal critical thinker is usually inquisitive, knowledgeable, of reliable reasoning, open-minded, flexible, fair in his evaluations, honest in acknowledging his prejudice, prudent to make judgments, willing to reconsider things, clear about problems, ordered in complex matters, diligent in searching for relevant information, reasonable in selecting criteria, focused on investigating and persistent in the search for results that they are as precise as the subject / matter and the circumstances of the investigation allow it ”.
We may not be paying enough attention to this critical thinking movement that was launched in the previous decade, and which may already be associated with the concern for information excellence in companies. The translation of information into knowledge, to ensure the effectiveness of each decision and action, requires different strengths and powers, and among them a good dose of critical thinking: a key competence that prevents us from false learning.
Critical thinking and informational skills
It would seem that we enjoy an abundance of information, but it does not always respond to our expectations or needs. We cannot believe everything we are told or what we read, nor ignore the underlying purposes of each fact or each information. When we are going to document ourselves, when we are about to learn, we have to endow ourselves, among other personal faculties, with tenacity, insight, sagacity, intuition and, of course, critical thinking. Information can be rigorous and clear, pertinent and valuable, comprehensive and timely; But it can also contain errors or inaccuracies, serve spurious interests, be confusing or inconsistent. We are not talking about the heart press, nor about the daily information media: we are now focused on the one that, managers and workers,we drive for our professional performance and our lifelong learning.
It was also in the early 1990s that the information literacy movement emerged between documentary filmmakers and universities, as they became aware of the need for lifelong learning, and began to perceive the meaning of the so-called Society of information. At the time (Doyle, CS 1992, "Final Report to National Forum on Information Literacy", ED 351-033), Christina Doyle said that the informationally skilled person:
- It admits that complete and accurate information supports the best decision-making. It is aware of the need for information. It asks questions according to its information needs. It identifies potential sources of information. It develops accurate search strategies. It uses different technologies to access to information. Is capable of evaluating information. Can organize information to facilitate its application. It incorporates information into its body of knowledge. It uses information in its mental processes, for example to solve problems.
Progress was soon made in the deployment of the so-called literacy or information skills, and critical thinking was undoubtedly capital. Among the strengths and abilities (both intrapersonal and functional or operational) of the informationally skilled individual, the following should be highlighted:
- Eagerness to learn. Tenacity. Intuition. Insight. Serenity. Integrity. Critical thinking. Search strategy. Handling of tools. Selective reading. Evaluation of information. Understanding and synthesis. Connections and abstractions. Synergic and systemic application.
Also in the early 1990s, the idea of knowledge management emerged in the business world, appearing to overcome the benefits of the then current information management systems. The reports offered by the computers did not always allow for the right decisions, and it was thought that, beyond managing information, it was necessary to do an appropriate knowledge management. Already in this 21st century, the three movements -critical thinking, information skills and knowledge management- fully converge, and move us to always seek the necessary information, to translate it carefully into knowledge, and to process it in organizations, in collective benefit. We have a lot of information, but we must properly distinguish the most valuable from the confusing,disorienting or false.
Criticality and critical thinking
Perhaps it is appropriate to insist now on the difference between what we consider in the company a critical person, and what we understand by a critical thinker. The critic is, indeed, frowned upon in organizations: he is often viewed as a negative individual and, as it were, placed under observation. Surely, the critic is being unfairly treated, in general; but in any case, that of critical thinker is another concept, and let us underline differences.
We understand that the critical individual:
- Looks for flaws, failures, presents a negative attitude, believes in good judgment, rushes in inferences, generates mistrust and insecurity, often reproaches, sees bad, identifies failure and guilt, denotes dissatisfaction, admits everything that supports his judgments.
We understand that the critical thinker:
- Seeking truths, Presenting an exploratory attitude, Wanting to have good judgment, Identifying inferences, Generating confidence and security, Often having doubts, Finishing seeing the hidden, Identifying causes and consequences, Denoting curiosity, Contrasting all information.
We could certainly highlight other differences, but perhaps it is not necessary. We can observe with prevention the compulsive critic or skeptic, but, in the companies of knowledge, we have to catalyze the presence of critical thinking, self-controlled thinking, both in managers and in skilled workers.
Final message
We have spoken of different opportune movements around the Information Society, and we could have done it equally of the movement of competences (competency movement), of increasing reflection in continuous training initiatives: to develop in individuals the competency traits demanded by their current and future work. However, the competency models, although aligned with the idea of lifelong learning, are perhaps not paying enough attention to critical thinking (nor to self-knowledge, intuition, personal strengths, empathy…).
To the extent that we need managers and workers who think, we need them to do it carefully and effectively. When, in companies, we limited someone to obey, we would be limiting him very, very much; If we want him to think - or above all else - we must catalyze the cultivation of critical thinking. Continuing training initiatives should perhaps pay greater attention to this need, to the benefit of the levels of productivity and competitiveness pursued. Far from stifling critical thinking, let's cultivate it and facilitate its cultivation.
