Trends, Networks, and Critical Thinking

in the 21st Century

WEEK 5
LESSON Differentiating Strategic
Analysis and Intuitive Thinking
1 _________________________________________________

Learning Concept

When it comes to solving an everyday, practical problem, should the problem be

approached analytically or intuitively? When one leads a work team toward achieving a
project deadline or makes a decision about where to attend college, will analysis or
intuition lead to a better solution? Should one focus on the pros and cons of two
alternatives, identify the relevant information, and solve the problem logically, or is it better
to rely on an intuitive approach in which one trusts one’s feelings and hunches about the
situation?

Let us read some facts so we can further differentiate strategic analysis from
intuitive thinking.

 Strategic analysis is a process that involves researching an organization's

business and operations.
 Strategic analysis is extremely analytical and rational.
 Strategic Analysis is a process of research on the business environment within
which an organization operates and, on the organization, itself, in order to
formulate strategy.
 Strategic thinking: This type of thinking uses analytical thinking to create
solutions to problems.
 Analytical thinking: This is simply the act of breaking down data into useful
information.
 Mental attributes of Strategic Analysis include being conscious, explicit, in
control, with high effort but slow on action, rational, reflective, and uniquely
humans.
 Functional attributes include being analytical, theoretical, sequential, rule-
based, analytical and is linked to general intelligence.

1
 SWOT Analysis is a strategic planning method used to evaluate the Strengths,
Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats involved in a project or in a business
venture.
 PEST Analysis (Political, Economic, Social, and Technological) as a strategic
planning method examines the effects of relevant external factors or the
macroenvironmental factors, on what is being decided on.
 CBA (Cost-Benefit Analysis) as a strategic planning method is a process of
calculating the strengths (benefits or advantages) and weaknesses (cost,
disadvantages) of each of the alternative solutions to a given problem in
monetary values.
 CEA (Cost-Effectiveness Analysis) as a strategic planning method is used for
weighing the strengths and weakness of the alternatives in the given problem.
 SEU Analysis (Subjective Expected Utility) is a strategic planning method which
examines a Decision Theory, the discipline that provides a rational framework
for choosing between alternative courses of action when the consequences
resulting from the choice are imperfectly known.

 Intuitive thinking is a feeling (a sense) that doesn't use rational processes

such as facts and data.
 Intuitive thinking: It's more of an instinct or immediate reaction. Typically, no
'thinking' is involved.
 Intuitive thinking has contrasting qualities: it is unfocused, nonlinear, contains
"no time," sees many things at once, views the big picture, contains
perspective, is heart centered, oriented in space and time, and tends to the real
or concrete.
 Intuition comes into its own where analytical thinking is inadequate: under time
pressure, where conditions are dynamic, where the differentiation between
observer and observed is unclear.
 Heuristics are mental shortcuts or thinking maneuvers that enable the decision
maker to make quick judgments, evaluations, or decisions often by simplifying
otherwise difficult problems or tasks.
 Mental attributes in Intuitive Thinking include being unconscious or
preconscious, implicit, automatic in action, with low effort, rapid or automatic,
experiential, impulsive and is being shared with animals.
 Functional attributes of intuitive thinking include being practical, concrete,
parallel, heuristic, holistic, and independent of general intelligence.

2
 What’s New
Learning Activity: We are two different things
DIRECTIONS: Below are words and phrases which describes the mental and
functional attributes of Intuitive Thinking and Strategic Analysis. Determine which
words or phrases is exclusively for Intuitive Thinking and for Strategic Analysis.
Use the table of comparison below to serve as a guide in answering. Use separate
sheet.
Rapid Slow Heuristic
Implicit Shared with animals Experiential
Uniquely human Unconscious Automatic
Conscious Controlled Sequential
High effort Explicit Rational
Parallel Low effort Rule-based

TABLE OF COMPARISON
Intuitive Thinking Strategic Analysis
(Mental & Functional Attributes) (Mental & Functional Attributes)
1. 1.
2. 2.
3. 3.
4. 4.
5. 5.
6. 6.
7. 7.
8. 8.
9. 9.

3
 LESSON

Applying Strategic Analysis

2 ________________________________________________

Learning Concept

You are most likely to succeed in life if you fully use your talents and skills .
Similarly, you'll suffer fewer problems if you know what your weaknesses are, and if you
manage these weaknesses so that they don't matter in the work and every decision that
you do.
So how are you going to identify these strengths and weaknesses, and analyzing
the opportunities and threats that flow from them? SWOT Analysis as an example of
strategic planning method is a useful technique that helps you do this.
SWOT Example
Let us review the SWOT analysis of Maria, a fresh college business administration
graduate who aims of starting a laundry shop in their community.

Strengths
 There is no existing laundry shop in our community.
 There are a lot of employees and college students whom surely will be needing
assistance in doing their laundry.

Weaknesses
 Area on where to put the shop is a struggle and cost is surely high at strategic
places.
 Financial matters has to be considered in purchasing what is necessary and what is
not.

Opportunities
 Attending a barangay forum will help me introduce my shop.
 I have friends who are willing and able to help me with my shop.

Threats
 People might not like the idea specially when they are used to washing their clothes
by themselves.
 The current economic climate may hinder people from coming into my shop specially
that it summer and most students are on break.

4
  As a result of performing this analysis, Maria takes the bold step of approaching
people whom she believes can help her in starting her business. By working as
a team, they have greater chances to make the business into greater heights.

What’s New
Learning Activity: SWOT Analysis
Situation
Your boss is planning to build or put-up a department store or a mall (e.g. Gaisano or SM)
in a far flung municipality and you are task to do research. Now, complete the table on SWOT
Analysis below. Give two answers for each. Use separate sheet.
SWOT Your Findings

Strengths 1.
2.

Weaknesses 1.
2.

Opportunities 1.
2.

Threats 1.
2.

5
 LESSON
Intuitive Thinking in Solving a

3 Problem
___________________________________________________

Learning Concept

In what specific events of your life do you use intuitive thinking in solving your
problem? Was your decision right? Before moving on, let us recall first facts about intuitive
thinking.

 INTUITIVE THINKING IS FAST THINKING

 You made a snap decision without using any intellectual analysis
 You trusted your gut in a tough or awkward situation
 You used your instincts or physical reflexes in a potentially life or death scenario
 You had a feeling about entering a place or situation that you could not define that
something was not quite right
 You trusted your intuition at the time but it turned out that you misread the
situation and got it all wrong
 Intuitive thinking greatly enhances problem solving by helping to
bring problems into clearer focus, by providing more imaginative and meaningful
insights into problems, and by stimulating more creative and effective solutions.

Let us try to study the situations below and determined how intuitive thinking was
used in solving the problem.

Situation Intuitive Decision

Maria saw her boyfriend talking to his ex- Right then, she broke up with her
girlfriend at the park. boyfriend for 5 years.

Mario punched Pedro when he saw him

Mario with wet hands was electrocuted
laughing not knowing that Pedro was
while plugging the electric fan.
having fun time with her chatmate.

6
 Little Jane asked for an ice cream to her
The brother hid her sisters favorite doll
older brother but was not given. After
only to find out later it was his father who
some time, the brother found out his ice
finished the ice cream.
cream leftover was missing at the fridge.

What’s New
Learning Activity: Who do you think?
Intuitive thinking is fast and uses instincts right? Now let us see how quick would you decide. Who
do you think should be blamed about certain problems or conditions below? Be specific with your
answers. Use separate sheet for your answer.
Situation Persons to be blamed
1. Garbage or waste is scattered everywhere in A.
the community. B.
2. Cutting classes in a certain community high A.
school. B.
3. Social distancing in a church. A.
B.
4. Illegal parking of motorcycles. A.
B.
5. Teenage pregnancy. A.
B.

7
 What I have learned

 Strategic analysis is a process that involves researching an organization's

business and operations. Its objective is to formulate strategic planning for decision
making and smooth working of that organization.

 Strategic analysis is a process that involves researching an organization's

business and operations.

 Strategic analysis is extremely analytical and rational.

 Mental attributes of Strategic Analysis include being conscious, explicit, in control,

with high effort but slow on action, rational, reflective, and uniquely humans.

 Functional attributes include being analytical, theoretical, sequential, rule-based,

analytical and is linked to general intelligence.

 Intuitive thinking is a feeling (a sense) that doesn't use rational processes such
as facts and data.

 Intuitive thinking: It's more of an instinct or immediate reaction. Typically, no

'thinking' is involved.

 Mental attributes in Intuitive Thinking include being unconscious or pre-conscious,
implicit, automatic in action, with low effort, rapid or automatic, experiential,
impulsive and is being shared with animals.

 Functional attributes of intuitive thinking include being practical, concrete, parallel,

heuristic, holistic, and independent of general intelligence.

8
 1. Assessment

MULTIPLE CHOICE
Directions: Read and understand each item and choose the CAPITAL LETTER of your
choice. Write all your answers on a piece of paper. (1 point each)

1. Which is not true in the statement?

a. Strategic analysis is a process that involves researching an organization’s
business and operations.
b. Strategic analysis is extremely analytical and rational.
c. Intuitive thinking has contrasting qualities.
d. Intuitive thinking is a feeling that use rational processes.
2. Which of the following describes the mental attributes of strategic analysis?
a. Unconscious c. With high effort but slow in action
b. Implicit d. Not rational
3 . Which of the following is NOT TRUE?
a. SWOT-Strength, Weakness, Opportunities, Threats
b. PEST-Political, Economic, Social, Technological
c. CBA- Cost, Benefit, Analysis
d. CEA- Cost, Economic, Analysis
4. It is a process that involves researching an organization’s business and operations.
a. Intuitive thinking c. critical thinking
b. Strategic analysis d. analytical thinking
5. A type of thinking which is a feeling ( a sense) that doesn’t use rational process such
as facts and data.
a. Intuitive thinking c. critical thinking
b. Strategic analysis d. analytical thinking
6. This is simply the act of breaking down data into useful information.
a. Intuitive thinking c. critical thinking
b. Strategic analysis d. analytical thinking
7. Which of the following statement is TRUE about strategic analysis?
a. Strategic analysis is extremely analytical and not rational.
b. Strategic analysis is extremely not analytical and not rational.
c. Strategic analysis is extremely analytical and rational.
d. Strategic analysis is extremely not analytical and rational.
8. INTUITIVE THINKING IS FAST THINKING. Which is not TRUE in the statement?
a. You made s snap decision using any intellectual analysis.
b. You trusted your gut in a tough or awkward situation.

9
 c. You used your instincts or physical reflexes in a potentially life or death scenario.
d. You don’t have a feeling about entering a place or situation that you could not
define that something is wrong.
9. Which of the following is NOT a strategic planning method?
a. SWOT c. CBA
b. PEST d. SWAB test
10. PEST stands for?
a. Political, Economic, Social, Thinking
b. Political, Economic, Social, Technological
c. Power, Economic, Social, Technological
d. Power, Economic, Social, Thinking
11. SWOT analysis is a strategic planning method. What do you mean by SWOT?
a. Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities, Threats
b. Strengths, Willingness, Openness, Timely
c. Strengths, Willingness, Open-minded, Threats
d. Strengths, Weakness, Open-minded, Threats
12. Which of the following describes the functional attribute of intuitive thinking?
a. Practical c. Theoretical
b. Analytical d. Sequential
13. Which of the following describes the functional attribute of Strategic analysis?
a. Analytical c. not theoretical
b. Not Practical d. not sequential
14. Which of the following does not describes the mental attributes of Intuitive thinking?
a. Unconscious c. With low effort but automatic in action
b. Implicit d. rational
15. Which of the following statement is TRUE?
a) Intuitive thinking is a feeling (a sense) that doesn’t use rational process such as
facts and data.
b) Intuitive thinking is not more on instinct or immediate reaction.
c) Intuitive thinking has no contrasting qualities.
d) Intuitive thinking is focused, and linear.

10