The key to critical thinking is to adopt a concept or factor mapping approach to present, to connect, and to separate details.

One must put into practice what some call the Gestalt Approach, that is, consider the overall or the whole, and then go to the specific detail by separating and considering the positive or negative factors for their relevance, significance and importance.

This technique is easily demonstrated by using the traditional mathematical sets and logic diagram with its overlapping circles or shapes within a major oval or circular shape where various inner circles or shapes interlock with each other because they contain related detail.

YOUR TASK:

Terrence Becham is being considered for promotion to the position of departmental supervisor within a large graphic and design consultancy firm. Your task as the local, regional manager of the firm is to decide whether he should be given the position by critically thinking about and evaluating the known information and personal factors about him. Added to your responsibility is to assess two other applicants for the job, Jensen May and Peta Andrews. Whom would you choose and why?

Interpretation: The thick shape represents the whole issue being considered. The central, key factors or attributes are signified by the dark middle circle. Closely linked to these factors are some other major, relevant aspects shown by the slightly lighter circles. There are also two sets of other factors that also are relevant but different, as shown by the circles that are even lighter still.