The link at the post title discusses strategic thinking in military leadership, but I propose you put yourself in those shoes as we begin the week talking about how to use strategic thinking to analyze the problem of copper theft. After all, quality analysts directly influence the decisions of leaders and deal with "ill-defined, novel, and complex" work on a daily basis.
The following framework is from the chapter on strategic thinking in the National Defense University's online guide called Strategic Leadership and Decision Making:
* PERSPECTIVE
* CAPACITIES VS KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS
* SELF AWARENESS
* METACOGNITION
* CONCEPTUAL CAPACITY
* EXECUTIVE FLEXIBILITY
* CREATIVE AND CRITICAL THINKING
* RISK TAKING
Perspective, according to this text, requires anticipation. How well do we anticipate copper theft? If we were to create an intellectual framework to understand the future of copper theft, what would that look like?
Knowledge of copper theft and skills to study it, as well as finding ways to address it based on the knowledge of the past, are good - but do we develop the capacity to envision the larger, global problem of copper theft and the effect of markets such as China and India and their demand for copper? Do we solve the problem city by city, or case by case? Do we look at the implication of the problem and have vision about what the problem means for future developments in crimes involving similar metals and other commodities?
Are we aware of ourselves and what might stand in the way of, as well as what might aid, our strategic thinking? "Metacognition is thinking about thinking." Have we ever thought about how we think about copper theft? Have we been unconscious thinkers? Are we curious about knowing how we think and how we know (or don't know)?
Do we have the conceptual capacity to look at the complex multi-system-involved problem of copper theft tactically and over the horizon of a long period of time?
Are we flexible in our thinking? Can we see the problem from the viewpoints of the drug addict thief, the scrap metal dealer, the industries affected, the individuals affected, the systems disrupted, the links to organized crime, the expanding demand of countries, the copper mines, related metal theft?
How are our critical and creative thinking skills? Do we understand our strengths and weaknesses in this area? Do we seek to find others who will complement our abilities so that we may improve and grow from collaboration? Do we ask a variety of others for information and guidance; do we research open source information to learn more about copper theft?
Can you risk doing things in new ways? Will you study this problem of copper theft beyond the defined areas of your responsibility? Do you want to be a strategic thinker?
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