Critical Thinking at Sonic Speeds
Special Edition: America—Innovation Nation Part IV. Examples of game-changing innovations are presented, along with ways in which we can establish our own innovation platform from which creative ideas can emerge.
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Special Edition: America—Innovation Nation Part III. The discussion of innovation in America continues. Innovation is now a national agenda item. Every one of us needs to take this seriously, and not leave the innovation challenge to others.
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Welcome to the new intellectual frontier: innovation.
Innovation (another term for complex problem solving) and critical thinking are the most sought after skills in the global job market—but the most difficult to fill, according to The Future of Jobs report published by the World Economic Forum.
Following the report, innovation became a national agenda item and may become an important part of the Trump-Republican platform, thanks to Newt Gingrich.
Innovation and critical thinking share the same cognitive space. They embrace anything that leads to discovery. The discovery of something new is what they are all about. But for really big discoveries, finding solutions to complex problems is now our greatest challenge that we face as a nation, just as when Nick Steinsberger discovered how to extract gas and oil from shale deep underground.
So let us rise to this new challenge, as we have so done in the past, and renew our commitment to be a nation of innovators.
Recent innovations in aviation, medicine, finance, and insurance highlight the cognitive processes involved in big discoveries. Contrary to what many believe, new ideas emerge from a rather systematic, disciplined process rather than from an off-the-cuff endeavor.
The cognitive resources that help someone discover solutions to complex problems do not reside in any one discipline and, more importantly, do not emerge from data. Indeed, ninety percent of all enterprise data collected is never used—an enormous waste.
Breakthroughs in innovation and critical thinking do not come from what others know. They come from what many, or most, do not know but should. Thus the current view that justifies a particular cognitive arena or discipline is not likely to generate higher-order innovations (big ideas). Rather, they are content with small scale, incremental innovations. While playing it safe is okay with many cost-conscious managers, big picture thinking and breakthrough ideas are what America is all about, and are what we all should strive for.
Stay tuned! In our upcoming radio shows, podcasts, and blogs, we will expand on these ideas of critical thinking and innovation in America.
Special Edition: America—Innovation Nation Part II. Part I was broadcast June 30, 2018. Captain Smith presents a Q&A on innovation, which demonstrates the need to think critically when engaged in an innovative activity. He begins discussing the “eight essentials of innovation.”
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Special Edition: America—Innovation Nation. Captain Smith explores how America can accelerate creativity and develop new business models optimized for innovation.
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Part I: Captain Smith discusses the Justice Department Inspector General’s (DOJ IG) report on the Clinton emails investigation by FBI. Utilizing the principles of critical thinking as a guide, Captain Smith concludes that the FBI investigation violated all standards of professionalism. Part II: Captain Smith analyzes the popularity of Jordan Peterson.
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Captain Smith addresses the Trump-Kim Summit and what this means geopolitically and economically, especially as another breakthrough for the Trump administration. He continues discussing critical thinking and complex problem solving.
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The story of oil shale innovation in the Permian Basin in Texas is presented in the context of complex problem solving. Captain Smith addresses the questions: What is complex problem solving? Why is it important? How do you do it? He also discusses the meaning of the recent jobs report.
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Spygate and fake news are discussed along with the presentation of a “fake news detector.” Captain Smith discusses Venezuela and the tragedy of socialism. He presents a complex problem-solving scenario.
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Part I: How to critically examine an argument that cannot pass the test of reason. Such propositions are an important component of information warfare favored by the radical left, especially the Neo-Marxists. Part II: The FBI sponsored spying on the Trump campaign. If the IRS has been used for partisan political purposes, why not the FBI? Part III: Captain Smith continues discussing complex problem solving.
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