Trends, Networks, and Critical

Thinking in the 21st Century

Quarter 3 – Module 4: Understanding
Strategic Analysis and Intuitive
Thinking

Lesson Understanding Strategic

4 Analysis and Intuitive

Thinking

We all think. We have no choice but to think. In fact, the great Aristotle described
us, human persons as the “thinking being”. However, could we challenge ourselves to think
at a higher level? Is thinking a skill that can be improved? How often do we actually think
about the way we think?

What’s New

Thinking is an important part of our human experience, and one that has captivated
people for centuries. Thinking skills are the mental activities you use to process information,
make connections, make decisions, and create new ideas. You use your thinking skills when you
try to make sense of experiences, solve problems, make decisions, ask questions, make plans,
or organize information. ("Thinking Skills - Analytical, Critical and Creative Thinking", 2021)

Directions: Put a check (√ ) on each blank if the following is true to you. Write your
answers on a separate sheet of paper.

1. I think several times before I do something.

2. I often assume and it usually works.
3. When people relay information to me, I easily believe it.
4. I tend to believe what I read.
5. I take responsibility to everything I hear and say.
 6. I verify and look for basis before concluding.
7. I answer questions which I do not know.
8. I randomly click “Like” in Facebook without any reason.
9. I ask questions why I need to do my assigned tasks.
10. I just yield to whatever I am asked to do.

What is It

As already described in the preliminary above, Aristotle described the human person as
an “rational animal” which only mean that we humans are the only beings capable of reasoning or
thinking. This concept was reiterated by the modern thinker, Rene Descartes, in his famous “cogito
ergo sum” or “I think therefore I exist” which he meant that we human beings, whether we liked
it or not, whether we choose it or not, whether we doubt it or not, we think. The question
“why we think?” may be functionally answered by sciences like psychology, biology and
physics but the question “how we think?” brings us to the process and development of our
capacity to think.

Strategic Analysis and Intuitive Thinking Defined

Strategic analysis refers to a system or method that requires deliberate, abstract,

and effortful thinking that breaks down a complex problem into parts. Deliberate thinking
employs a detailed examination of a problem to come up with a solution. This involves
looking at the context of the problem. The amount of time and resources are the primary factors
in strategic analysis. The most common strategic analysis model used in decision-making
follows five steps as illustrated in the diagram below.

(Arzadon, 2018)
2. Analyze the problem
1. Identify the problem

5. Reflect on the outcomes 3.Generate a solution

4. Implement
the solution
 STEPS EXPLANATION
1. Identify Involves defining the problem and the factors or
conditions involved in the situation
2. Analyze Examining the variables that will change state situations, including
the potential challenges and its causes
3. Generate Setting practical, reasonable, and creative criteria and strategies
to solve the problem
4. Implement Execution of the plan
5. Assess and reflect on the Draw lessons that will guide future decisions
outcome

The process above requires you to follow a pattern to creatively address a situation.
This involves strategic thinking.

Another focus of this lesson is for you to engage in decision-making activities that will
allow you to apply decision making methods. Strategic analysis is relevant in addressing your
personal issues as a student. It means that you can also analyze your own strengths, weaknesses,
opportunities, and threats in order to make creative strategies or solutions in facing life
challenges. In practice, a personal SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threat/s)
will help you understand your personal issues and goals as well as construct effective ways
in dealing with both. This is illustrated through the personal SWOT analysis shown on the
next page, which presents that of a student who wishes to finish high school with good grades.

Strengths Weaknesses
1. What values, skills, and abilities do 1. What limits or hinders you in
you possess? getting good grades?
2. How can you use these to get good 2. How can your limitations deter
grades? from achieving your goal?
3. What learning strategies do you need
to develop in order to achieve your goal?
Personal SWOT
Analysis Diagram

Opportunities Threat/s
1. What social and cultural factors can
help you attain and sustain your goal?
What obstacles might limit and stop you
2. Who can help you in pursuing your from pursuing your goal?
goal?

Let us now proceed to the discussion of intuitive thinking!

Intuitive thinking is “quick and ready insight” (Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary).
It is another approach to decision-making. This is the ability to understand something
instinctively without the need for conscious reasoning. Sometimes, it is referred to as gut
feeling, sixth sense, inner sense, instinct, inner voice, spiritual guide, etc. Intuitive thinking is
affected by how one feels and define a thing or event. Particular norms and value systems
within a community are considered when making decisions. For example, among some
indigenous people, their farmers would not touch certain places in the field like an anthill. When
asked why they do avoid such places, they cannot cite any pragmatic reason. It was just
intuition. Maybe they will say that nuno sa punso (a mythical dwarf-like creature), lives in
those places. Soil scientist said that such is a sound practice because anthills are necessary to
maintain the physical, chemical, and biological health of the soil.
Intuitive decision-making is far more than using common sense because it involves
additional sensors to perceive and get aware of the information from outside.
In dealing with everyday life issues and situations, we are called to make immediate
decisions based on our ‘gut’ feelings and prior knowledge and experiences. This type of
decisionmaking is evident in various situations: a doctor assessing an emergency case; a
teacher determining the reason for a child’s inattentiveness in class; a buyer examining which
vegetable to buy; and a firefighter trying to rescue a fire victim. In these cases, one would not
hesitate or delay making decisions because these situations need immediate action.
The question is now whether rational reasoning or intuitive decision-making is
generally better. The question is rather how both approaches can be best combined for best
results and to avoid mistakes and prejudices.
The Venn Diagram below shows some similarities and differences between
strategic analysis and intuitive thinking.

STRATEGIC
INTUITIVE
ANALYSIS
THINKING
• starts from an idea or
concept and • focuses on the idea
moves on to what
or concept and its
can be associated
with it logical mind attributes
needed • heart centered
• brain-centered • hunch, instinct,
• hard facts, data, gut feeling
instructions • spontaneous, quick,
• needs time to finish in finished at one time
one or more sittings or • unplanned
sessions
• well-planned

Using Intuitive Thinking in Social Networks

 Each person is engaged in a variety of networks associated with his or her multiple
roles and interests in the community. According to Arzadon et.al. (2017), these networks
can be, among others, political, economic, and sociocultural.
Your political networks are composed of relations with government officials, student
government, and community leaders, among others.
The economic networks you belong to cover the manufacturers, agents, and sellers of
the goods you consume such as those in stores, groceries, markets, and malls as well as
money lenders.
Your sociocultural or social networks are those belonging to your dance troupe,
choir, reading club, band, arts club, or theater company. Kinship ties, neighborhood
associations, friendship clubs, and veterans’ associations also belong to the social network
wherein people constantly engage in close communication and interaction through visits, phone
calls, text messages, and activities of common interest.
Social networks appear as clusters and support groups of people who share similar
interests, backgrounds, and real-life connections. They are avenues for meeting new
friends, reuniting with old and lost friends, exchanging gifts and favors, and developing
cooperation. The community is home to this web of interrelations and interconnections of
people and institutions. Community refers to a particular geographic location with people
living under the same set of laws and recognizing common leaders. Studies of community
linkages deal usually with who was seen interacting with whom.
Another concept in the study of social ties is the center of influence. This is the person
to whom people gravitate around. This person who can give favors, can command and make
things happen. Examples of center of influence are the mayor, judge, barangay captain,
school principal, and university president, among others. His or her influence transcends the
boundaries of social networks and thus reaches other kinds of networks. A center of influence
has many people and institutions attached to him or her, thereby creating a substantial influence
in the community.

What’s More

A. Directions: Examine the picture below. Write reasons with your family members and
answer the questions provided. Use a separate sheet of paper for your answers.
 Rommel, a five-year-old boy, puts a label “salt” into a jar of sugar. Actually, he
has been observing it almost everyday because many ants are attacking the jar.

1. Why do you think Rommel has labeled the jar of sugar “salt”?

2. Did he use intuitive or strategic way of thinking? Why?

3. What is lacking in his problem-solving skill?

B. Think of specific events in your life where you had to exercise intuitive thinking and strategic
analysis in your decisions. Reflect on the insights you have gained from both experiences.
Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.

Strategic Analysis:
 Event:

Insight:

Intuitive
Thinking:

Event:

Insight:

What I Have Learned

Directions: Complete the following sentences by reflecting on what you have learned. You may
further explain your answers. Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.

1. Strategic thinking refers to

2. Intuitive thinking refers to _

3. Political networks are

4. Economic networks are

5. Social networks are

Directions: Using your understanding about strategic analysis and intuitive thinking, decide
whether each situation requires intuitive thinking or strategic analysis. Provide a
short explanation of your answer. Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.

1. A doctor attending to the patients in the emergency room

2. A scientist finding a cure or an infectious disease

3. A group of researchers solving climate change

4. A firefighter rescuing victims from a burning building

5. A lawyer solving a case

6. A street vendor trying to sell and generate good profit within a day

7. A teacher wanting to solve poor motivation among her students

8. A lady trying to figure out whether to bring or not an umbrella in anticipation of rain

9. A couple wanting to buy a house in a subdivision

10. A mother attending to the whining of her child

 RUBRICS FOR ESSAY
Adapted from: Tuazon, Jenny
CONTENT STYLE/ CONVENTIONS

The presence of ideas developed The choice, use and arrangement of

through facts, examples, words and sentence structures that create
anecdotes, reasons and/or tone and voice
explanations

5 Substantial, specific, and/or Precise, illustrative use of a variety of words

illustrative content demonstrating and sentence structures to create consistent
strong development and writer’s voice and tone appropriate to
sophisticated ideas audience
4 Sufficiently developed content

with adequate elaboration or Generic use of a variety of words and

explanation sentence structures that may or may not
create writer’s voice and tone appropriate
3 Limited content with to audience
inadequate elaboration or Limited word choice and control of sentence
explanation structures that inhibit voice and tone
2 Superficial and/or minimal
content Minimal variety in word choice and minimal
control of sentence structures
2-Point Rubric- Short Response
2 Points The response has sufficient number of relevant facts, definitions, concrete
details, and/or other information according to the requirements of the
prompt.
1 Point The response has some relevant facts, definitions, concrete details,
and/or other information according to the requirements of the prompt.

0 Point The response is totally inaccurate