LAS: TRENDS, NETWORK, AND CRITICAL THINKING MODULE 4

Objectives:
a. Explain strategic analysis and intuitive thinking
-Define strategic analysis and intuitive thinking
-Differentiate key components in strategic analysis and intuitive thinking
b. Apply strategic analysis
c. Apply intuitive thinking in solving a problem in the community using a map of
social networks

Understanding Strategic Analysis and Intuitive Thinking

Activity 1: Put a check (√ ) on each blank if the following is true to you.
______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.
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 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.

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)

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.
LAS: TRENDS, NETWORK, AND CRITICAL THINKING MODULE 4
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.
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.
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.
Activity 2 A: Examine the picture below. Write reasons with your family members and
answer the questions provided.
Rommel, a five-year-old boy, puts a label “salt” into a jar of
sugar. He has been observing it almost every day because
many ants are attacking the jar.
1. Why do you think Rommel has labeled the jar of sugar “salt”?
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2. Did he use intuitive or strategic way of thinking? Why?
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3. What is lacking in his problem-solving skill?
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LAS: TRENDS, NETWORK, AND CRITICAL THINKING MODULE 4

Activity 2 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 answer on a separate sheet of paper and
attach it to this module.

Activity 3: 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.

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

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2. A scientist finding a cure or an infectious disease
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3. A group of researchers solving climate change
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4. A lawyer solving a case
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5. teacher wanting to solve poor motivation among her students
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