To be convincing, competent and confident in the presentation of the results of critical thought, one needs to develop and master a “tool box” of special but practical diagnostic, analytical and evaluation skills.

The most important is self-confidence.

The second tool is concept connection, that is, the prerequisite to creating a concept canvas or map.

Concept connection is the art of recognizing and creating valid links between facts, factors, features, and fallacies raised or researched in relation to an issue.

Concept canvassing is the portrayal diagrammatically (and mentally) as if on an artist’s canvas. It is also similar in many ways to completing a jigsaw – with the ongoing task of recognizing related pieces and then fitting them together in a way that gradually reveals the total picture.

Again, by using a Sets and Logic approach of overlapping and interconnected circles or forms, these connected concepts depict the relationship, or lack thereof, of the facts, factors, features and fallacies considered. Concept canvassing is an extension of what is known as concept mapping.

Concept canvassing enhances one’s ability to visually and mentally see the linkage between information, data and detail – to adopt a whole-of-issue approach to a problem – to quickly review and re-evaluate one’s assumed connections and links – to physically and visually present one’s argument logically as well as diagrammatically - and to demonstrate in an effective, convincing way why certain conclusions have been drawn from the information available.

Connecting concepts begins by taking a tabula rasa (clean slate) approach to an issue. One has to mentally discard all preconceived ideas and opinions about a particular subject and initially adopt the now classic, Sergeant Schultz attitude of the TV series “Hogan’s Heroes” - “I know nothing!”.

CRITICAL, CREATIVE, PRODUCTIVE THINKING ACTION ACTIVITIES:

1. What questions would you ask of a local government building construction supervision committee chairperson if you were intending to build apartment units in that local government area?

2. What inquiries would you make if you were intending to establish a cleaning product business in another Southeast Asian country?

3. The plumbing in the toilet facilities on the ninth floor is leaking with water going into the lifts, the hallway, into your rented offices, and those of other tenants on the eighth floor. What action would you take?

4. You have been approached by a financial adviser offering you the opportunity to invest in an off-shore, high-interest-earning, business venture. What approach would you take?

5. You have only just discovered after a new house has been built next to where you have lived for 15 years that the very expensive, brick dividing fence that your new friendly neighbour has just had constructed is 20 centimetres on your land. What will you do about it?

6. Your brand new Mercedes Benz has just come back from its first service and to your horror, you discover two deep scratches on the passenger side back door. What action will you take?

7. The electric company has refused your first claim for the replacement of an external, electrical pump that was damaged and totally ruined because of a massive power surge in your area. What will you do about this rejection?

8. Three previously unknown, roof painters have approached one of your very elderly and extremely independent neighbors offering to paint her rather tired-looking roof for an exorbitant price. How will you resolve this issue without being seen to be interfering in her right to make her own decisions.

9. One of your employees who has been with your firm for more than 10 years has been very late to work for the fourth time in two weeks and now other staff are constantly talking about her lateness. What will you do about this issue?

10. In the last two weeks, four of the guests in the very popular, 50-room motel that you manage, have lost valuables from their rooms - in one case, money was taken from a locked, room safe. What action will you take?

11. As a Grade Four teacher, you are approached by a group of parents complaining about a boy in your class who is bullying their children in the playground and taking their lunches. What will you do about the complaints?

12. Your secondary students are going to a “free” day-time opera sponsored by a local music firm but six of them don’t have the bus fare. What action will you take?