RRS

Icamina's (2023), study intends to find out the level of strategic thinking skills of

students and how it affects their metacognitive skills in mathematics. The study collected

data using the survey-correlational research method. The findings demonstrated that

second-year BS in Industrial Technology students had "high" strategic thinking skills. In

agreement, the quality of their metacognitive skills in Mathematics was "evident". These

findings led to the conclusion that there were no significant differences in metacognitive

abilities across the strategic thinking skill levels of second-year BS in Industrial

Technology students. There was no relationship between second-year BS Industrial

Technology students' strategic learning and metacognitive skills in Mathematics.

Although the study conducted on the 2nd year BS in Industrial Technology

students, Icamina’s (2023) study differs to ours because it targets grade 7 students. There

is no intervention in their study, but our research includes an intervention where strategic

thinking is enhanced through recreational math games. However, their study is survey-

correlational research, suggesting that the study data were collected through a survey.

Our study, on the other hand, is assessment, and the data collection involve implementing

recreational math games among the students, then testing their ability to strategize.

The two research studies share a focus on the importance of strategic thinking

skills and how they influence mathematical proficiency. Although Icamina’s (2023) study

focuses into mathematics specifically both pieces of research aim to reveal the connection

between strategic thinking skills and metacognitive skills. Additionally, they contribute to

enhancing knowledge of teaching methods in mathematics education by emphasizing the

significance of strategic thinking skills.

 Flores (2023) describes strategic decision-making as a difficult process,

particularly in higher education organizations. Understanding how education college

deans make strategic decisions is essential for effective management and decision

support. This qualitative single case study investigated the strategic decision-making

processes (SDMP) of college deans at public universities in Eastern Visayas, Philippines.

The study intended to find out the characteristics of SDMPs and approaches to SDM and

provide an original model that encompasses the whole range of decision-making modes.

Data was gathered through semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and

reflective essays from eight deans chosen through purposive sampling based on

predetermined criteria.

In contrast, our study seeks to enhance the strategic thinking of 7th grade students

in a public high school in Lucena City, Quezon, Philippines, through recreational math

games. The study will employ a quantitative approach and test to establish whether their

interaction to recreational math games will improve the extent to which their strategic

thinking increases. Consequently, we seek to prove that recreational math games are an

effective tool and provide evidence.

One similarity between our study and Flores’ (2023) is that we are both concerned

with education and ways to enhance it. Although we have different emphases and

strategies, both studies address how to optimize both Philippine educational systems and

performance. Therefore, in addition to student strategic thinking skill s development,

Flores is also interested in academic leadership decision making.

According to Julita et al. (2020), one of the strategic thinking aptitudes needed for

addressing the challenges of this globalization period is mathematical strategic thinking

ability. The reason for this is that strategic thinking helps in decision-making and

problem-solving. The gender disparities (boys and girls) between students who received

direct instruction and those who received quantum learning based on creative problem-

solving were the main focus of this study. The method used in this study is a quasi-

experiment with all of Bogor City's high school students. The research sample consists of

140 first-year students from four different classes at Bogor City High School. The

findings of the study revealed that there was no significant difference in Mathematical

Strategic Thinking Ability between male and female students, regardless of whether they

learned Quantum Learning Based on Creative Problem-Solving or not.

In Bogor City, Indonesia, Julita et al. (2020) conduct a study that uses the quasi-

experimental approach to evaluate high school strategic thinking ability of students on

mathematics. Different types of educational strategies are investigated in their study. Our

research, which takes place in Lucena City, Philippines at Quezon National High School,

will be analyzed using quantitative methodology looking into grade 7 strategic thinking

skill and assessments as well as recreational math games. These differences emphasize

the specific context and target populations for each study.

Assessment is the main data collecting method for both studies. Julita et al.’s

(2020) study on strategic thinking in mathematics among students while our study will

assess how strategic thinking changes due to recreational math games. Despite

differences in methods and contexts, they both serve to enhance understanding of student

development in strategic thinking as well as the most effective instructional interventions

that can be used to foster improvement of the strategic thinking skill.

 Mbaya et al. (2021) conducted this study to investigate the impact of strategic

thinking on the performance of small and medium-sized dairy processing firms in Kenya.

The study was based on the Leidtka Model. Descriptive and explanatory research designs

were utilized. A census study was conducted on all small and medium-sized dairy

processing firms in Kenya, and primary data was gathered. The findings revealed that

strategic thinking has a positive and significant effect on the performance of small and

medium-sized dairy processing firms in Kenya, implying that strategic thinking aids in

the creation of a path for what the firm wishes to become by focusing on intent, systems,

timely thinking, intelligent opportunism, and hypothesis-driven research.

Mbaya et al. (2021) have a study on the influence of strategic planning on success

of dairy processing firms in Kenya, which primarily focus on business performance

outcomes especially in the small and medium firm sector. Our study seeks to enhance

seventh graders’ strategic thinking through recreational math games that will be

employed as teaching aids. Specifically, we aim at developing students’ strategic thinking

skills in an educational context, more precisely in a public high school found in Lucena

City, Quezon, Philippines. However, while Mbaya et al.’s study deals with business

strategies ours is concerned with pedagogical methods for developing strategic thinking

among students.

The importance of strategic thinking abilities for students' future success is

emphasized in both studies. Significantly, Mbaya et al.’s (2021) study understands that

strategic thinking plays a fundamental role in business success thereby influencing the

economic environment and opportunities for students. In this context, our study shows

the importance of strategic thinking as a necessary skill for students' mental development.
Though they differ in their exact focus and methodologies, both studies enable us to

comprehend how crucial strategic thinking is towards students’ development and

achievement either economically or educationally. The important thing here is that it

shows the need to equip students with strategic thinking skills so as to be able to face any

demanding situations and take advantage of future opportunities.

Alatailat et al. (2019) explore the relationship between strategic thinking and

organizational performance using a variety of strategic management theories. It also

looks into whether the concept and content of high-performance work practices, as found

in rich countries, may be applied to enhance the effects of strategic thinking in the

banking industry of a developing country. According to the findings, concentrated intent,

clever opportunism, thinking in time, and hypothesis-driven analysis all improve

organizational performance, except when viewed from a systems perspective. As a result,

high-performance work practices were discovered to simply reduce the relationship

between concentrated intent, intelligent opportunism, thinking on time, and

organizational performance.

Alatailat et al. (2019) used a mixture of qualitative and quantitative

methodologies, which includes surveys, interviews, and information evaluation, to

analyze the relationship among strategic thinking and organizational overall performance.

Our study will take a quantitative approach, using assessments to quantify changes in

strategic thinking abilities amongst grade 7 students earlier than and after conducting

leisure math games.

 Both studies emphasized the importance of strategic thinking, either in

organizational or educational settings. They give insight into how strategic thinking

shapes decision-making and problem-solving processes. They contribute to an

understanding of the wide application of strategic thinking through studies in different

fields. Both give a perspective on strategic thinking as an important skill for success in

various industries. They emphasize the general value of strategic thinking in the

overcoming of challenges and accomplishment of objectives.

Alatailat, M., Elrehail, H., & Emeagwali, O.L. (2019). High performance work

practices, organizational performance and strategic thinking: A moderation perspective.

International Journal of Organizational Analysis, Vol. 27 No. 3, pp. 370-395.

https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOA-10-2017-1260

Derasin, L.M.C., Medico, J. O., & Nepangue, D. S. (2024). THE IMPACT OF

DIGITAL GAMIFICATION AND TRADITIONAL BASED LEARNING ON

STUDENTS’ MATHEMATICS ACHIEVEMENT: EVIDENCE FROM THE

PHILIPPINES. Journal of Data Acquisition and Processing, Vol. 38 (4) 2023 2115.

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.778108

Fan, L., Li, L., Chen, Q., & Li, N. (2023). How is educational gamification

represented in school curriculum? An investigation of Chinese secondary mathematics

textbooks. Sustainability, 15(4), 3830. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15043830

 Flores, J. E. (2023). Insights into Strategic Decision-making: Views of Filipino

Education Deans. Suranaree Journal of Social Science, 17(2).

https://doi.org/10.55766/sjss-2-2023-266991

Go, M. B., A, G. R., Velos, S. P., Dayupay, J. P., Dionaldo, W., Cababat, F.,

Bongo, M. F., Troussas, C., & Ocampo, L. (2022). Evaluating digital mathematical

games in improving the basic mathematical skills of university students. International

Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology, 55(4), 899–921.

https://doi.org/10.1080/0020739x.2022.2089604

Icamina, P. M. A. (2023). Strategic Learning and Metacognitive Skills in

Mathematics of The Bachelor of Industrial Technology at A University in Roxas City,

Capiz. International Journal of Multidisciplinary: Applied Business and Education

Research. 4(7), 2357 – 2362. https://doi: 10.11594/ijmaber.04.07.17

Julita, J., Darhim, D., & Tolle, H. (2020). Mathematical strategic thinking ability

using quantum learning based on creative problem solving in terms of high school

students gender. Journal of Physics. Conference Series, 1477(4), 042045.

https://doi.org/10.1088/17426596/1477/4/042045

Malvasi, V., Quintana, J. G., & Bocciolesi, E. (2022). The projection of

gamification and serious games in the learning of Mathematics Multi-Case Study of

Secondary Schools in Italy. Mathematics, 10(3), 336.

https://doi.org/10.3390/math10030336

Mbaya, J. M., Maina, S., & Namusonge, M. (2021). Strategic Thinking and

performance of Small and Medium-Sized Dairy Processing Firms in Kenya. European

Scientific Journal, 17(8). https://doi.org/10.19044/esj.2021.v17n8p106

 Sapico, A. T. (2023). Enhancing Understanding Skills of the Students through

Content-Based Recreational Activities. International Journal of Social Science Humanity

& Management Research, 2(12). https://doi.org/10.58806/ijsshmr.2023.v2i12n08