Charisma Today

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IBAR Critical Thinking Method Inventor Creates New Word for the Study of Critical Thinking

2016-02-08T11:28:00.002-08:00

On February 6, 2016, Edward S. Brown III, M.S., inventor of the IBAR Critical Thinking Method, coined the word “Coruscology,” to mean: The study of critical thinking and its influence on decision-making and problem-solving.

5 Trends & Predictions in Corporate Training for 2016

2015-12-16T22:28:00.004-08:00

Edward Brown, M.S.

Training is imparted to employees to ensure that they stay competent, competitive, and resourceful for an organization. The very purpose of providing corporate training is to ensure that employees are skilled sufficiently enough to take up any challenge, as well as tackle any changes in the workplace.

Most of the employees of an organization come from diverse backgrounds and hence possess different skills and mindsets. This is where the call for diversity becomes most important. Different ethnicities and backgrounds have various decision-makingprocesses. If corporate managers can encourage greater self-initiative and inspiration within a diverse corporate community, this makes for business opportunities that create groundbreaking innovation, which leads to greater corporate productivity and profitability. So what trends and predictions for 2016 will lead to corporations becoming more profitability by employees becoming more proficient?

1. An upsurge in critical thinking and soft skills training. A 2012 American Management Association (AMA) study asked 768 managers and executives about the importance of critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity (described as the Four C’s) to their organizations. An estimated 74.6% of the managers and executives who responded to AMA’s survey believed that the Four C’s will become even more important to their organizations in the next 3 to 5 years.

Prediction: Forbes 2014 Corporate Learning Factbook indicates that the U.S. spending on corporate training grew by 15% last year (the highest growth rate in seven years) to over $70 Billion in the US and over $130 Billion worldwide. Seventy-percent of organizations cite “capability gaps” as one of their top five challenges (Bersin, 2014). Corporate investments in skills gap training will continue to increase as the global economy becomes more competitive.

2. Corporate training directly tied to employee performance and evaluation. Wittbrodt (2014) suggested that an underperforming employee in a high-performing group (numbering 3 or 4) can bring productivity down by 30-40%. To put this in dollar terms, the annual revenue lost by an underperforming employee can be as high as $300,000 (Wittbrodt, 2014).

Prediction: As corporations require human resources departments to play a more active role in business development, corporate training, employee performance, and evaluation will become more granular for corporate profitability. Underperforming employees will be terminated in greater numbers with documented cases of underperformance. Particularly, this will impact regions of the country that have traditionally maintained strong employee unions.

3. Decision-making skills assessments will become part of the hiring process. Maggitti (2015) noted that “The Wall Street Journal reported last year saying, according to an Indeed.com study, employers are asking more often for critical thinking skills in their new hires. The study says that since 2009, mentions of critical thinking have doubled in job postings.”

Prediction: In addition to reading and writing evaluations, problem-solving and critical thinking assessments will become part of the employee vetting process to ensure that employees not only have the formal educational requirements, but also the decision-making skills to be self-directed and self-reliant employees.

4. The increase in corporate training certification programs. Go2HR (2015) noted that “Offering training programs and identifying clear career paths for junior employees leads to easier recruitment and lower turnover. Classes in such areas as language skills can increase communication between employees and improve work efficiency” (Go2HR, 2015).

Prediction: Corporations will create more in-house proprietary training certification programs as a way of expanding their mission as learning organizations (LO’s). Some corporations will have the magnitude of GE’s Crotonville management training center while others will have smaller on-site facilities tailored for junior employees during the onboarding process. Additionally, these training centers will become a part of the process for promotional opportunities, as well as profit centers for other companies to send their employees.

5. Corporate training will require more measurable results and outcomes. McAlone (2015) pointed to a University of Cambridge study conducted on Macat, an online learning platform and critical thinking tool, which found that using Macat caused improvement in both discipline-specific and general critical thinking skills also in just 8 hours.

Prediction: Corporate training, in-house or off-site, will require guaranteed results at the end of each training session. There will be less tolerance for “Motivational speeches” and more demand for inspired training that lead to qualitative and quantifiable outcomes. Consequently, corporate training providers will have to create methods, models, and systems that meet these expectations as opposed to “canned” presentations that fail to build workable skill sets.

The year 2016 will see a recommitment by corporate managers to providing the necessary tools for a productive workforce with employee compensation commensurate with documented success in work performance, as well as professional development.

Edward Brown, M.S., designs critical thinking and strategic thinking models for Core Edge Image & Charisma Institute, Inc. (Core Edge).

To view Core Edge’s catalog of critical thinking and decision-making models, visit: http://go.ibarcriticalthinkingmethod.com/catalog/

References

Bersin, J. (2014, Feb. 4). Spending on corporate training soars: Employee capabilities mow a priority. Forbes. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/joshbersin/2014/02/04/the-recovery-arrives-corporate-training-spend-skyrockets.

Go2HR (2015). Investing in your entry-level employees really can increase your company’s profitability. Retrieved from https://www.go2hr.ca/articles/investing-your-entry-level-employees-really-can-increase-your-companys-profitability.

Maggitti, P. (2015, June 2). Be the problem-solver: Employers want graduates who can think critically, analyze data, and challenge the status quo. U.S. News & World Report (Knowledge Bank). Retrieved from http://www.usnews.com/opinion/knowledge-bank/2015/06/02/3-critical-thinking-skills-business-graduates-need-to-succeed.

McAlone, N. (2015, Nov. 4). This Cambridge-approved startup says it can make you smarter in just 8 hours and it’s now raised $30 million. Business Insider (online). Retrieved from http://www.businessinsider.com/cambridged-approved-critical-thinking-startup-macat-raises-24-million-2015-11.

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Does SWOT Analysis Beat the IBAR Critical Thinking Method?

2015-10-05T21:52:00.002-07:00

Helen R. Metcalf

In today’s business climate, where corporate managers are attempting to make the most of their resources, it is essential to choose a strategic thinking model that nets the best results. Albert S. Humphrey is credited for developing the SWOT analysis in the 1960s. Essentially, the acronym for SWOT refers to Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. Strengths and weaknesses are considerations when a manager looks inside an organization to determine what it does best and least effective. Opportunities and threats are outside forces that could prove helpful or harmful to organizational development. In a practical sense, SWOT analysis seeks to find the benefits and liabilities that lie within and outside of an organization. As an example, a small business may be able to change directions rapidly (Strength), but this may prove harmful if the business is undercapitalized as it attempts to create new products (Weakness). Being a small company allows it to specialize in a niche (Opportunity), but may prove harmful if the niche is a commodity that can be dominated by a larger competitor (Threat). Typically, SWOT analysis affords the opportunity for managers to look at all angles of a company for establishing a viable marketing and business development strategy.

The IBAR Critical Thinking Method (IBAR) was developed by Edward S. Brown III in 2012. IBAR’s acronym stands for Issues, Benchmarks, Analysis/Application, and Recommendations. In strategic analysis, Issues, Applications, and Recommendations review the internal structure of the company, while Benchmarks and Analysis look at outside prospects. In a practical sense, a manager would ask what, when, why, where, and how a problem derived (Issue). Once the issue has been diagnosed, a manager would look for industry standards, best practices, and leaders who have dealt with a similar problem (Benchmarks). From these Benchmarks, a manager would determine why and how they worked successfully in the past (Analysis). It would be similar to precedents established in law. If judges have settled cases that serve as guidelines, the only determination is how this precedent (Benchmark) can be used successfully in this particular instance (Application). If there are several Benchmarks to consider, they must be triaged or prioritized based on their merit for providing the best chance for successful implementation. Resolving the order of priority is a part of the recommendation process, which reflects the most attractive solution available among options.

SWOT analysis is a comprehensive means of looking at an organization with a 360-degree lens. Harbour (n.d.) outlined the benefits and liabilities of SWOT Analysis. Harbour said the benefits are:

· SWOT helps decision makers decide on a course of action using a simple matrix.

· SWOT is an excellent tool for marketing campaigns.

· No special training is needed to implement SWOT.

Harbour says the liabilities include:

· SWOT identifies issues without providing solutions.

· SWOT may not reflect the reality of the business.

· SWOT does not prioritize the issue within its four quadrants.

Although very little has been written on the IBAR Critical Thinking Method, anecdotal analysis generated from its influence from the IRAC Method prompts some benefits and liabilities.

Some general benefits are:

· IBAR creates a solution to the issue.

· Benchmarks are anchored to the success of diverse companies.

· No special training is necessary after the initial introduction.

Some liabilities include:

· Its critical thinking premise is relegated to a simple formula.

· Provides a recommendation for issue resolution but still involves trial and error.

· Does not have a long history.

So does SWOT analysis beat the IBAR Critical Thinking Method? Based on the findings, SWOT analysis is effective at self-reflection and marketing campaigns. However, IBAR is effective at resolving issues, planning, and decision making. In this vein, IBAR is a better choice for comprehensive decision making for organizational development. On the other hand, SWOT is a better choice for getting a snapshot of the current state of organizational operations. The best choice between the two rests on the specific results a practitioner is attempting to achieve.

Reference

Harbour, S. (N.D.). What are the benefits and detriments of SWOT analysis? CHRON (Houston Chronicle). Retrieved from: http://smallbusiness.chron.com/benefits-detriments-swot-analysis-18468.html.

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2015-09-08T08:43:00.001-07:00

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2015-09-04T20:41:00.001-07:00

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2015-09-02T08:31:00.001-07:00

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2015-08-16T16:27:00.000-07:00

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2015-08-12T11:04:00.001-07:00

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2015-08-11T12:26:00.001-07:00

State of Georgia P.O.S.T. Accredits IBAR Critical Thinking Method

2015-08-08T11:27:00.000-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Wini Alexander

Director of Communications

(410) 382-3479

ibarcriticalthinkingmethod.com

State of Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council Accredits IBAR Workshop

(Atlanta, GA)—August 12, 2015 Core Edge Image & Charisma Institute granted approval by the Georgia P.O.S.T. Council to offer six credit hours for its IBAR Critical Thinking Method (IBAR) workshop to law enforcement personnel.

As a hands-on, critical thinking method, IBAR is influenced by the legal analysis used in American law schools, but geared to the rank and file. IBAR works to provide law enforcement officers with advanced critical thinking skills, which are especially timely in light of the recent national controversies regarding police officers interacting with minority communities.

The objective of this workshop is to help police personnel enhance their professionalism, as well as curtail liability and litigation concerns by administering a systematic approach to decision making and problem solving.

The Georgia P.O.S.T. Council mandates training for the 50,000+ peace officers within the state. Additionally, all Georgia peace officers are required to take 20 hours of training annually to maintain their peace officer certification.

One metro Atlanta police department has weighed in on the IBAR Critical Thinking Method: MARTA Police Chief, Wanda Dunham felt that her department needed to focus more on critical thinking skills to ensure that departmental resources were being utilized efficiently. Chief Dunham said, “The IBAR Critical Thinking Method effectively takes you through the critical thinking process with clarity and symmetry, leading to a desired outcome. I like the system.”

Core Edge Image & Charisma Institute founder and developer of IBAR, Edward Brown, said, “The complexities and challenges facing law enforcement today require a smarter and more intelligent police force. If we are able to assist in further professionalizing and enhancing the face of police departments, we are doing what’s best for society as well as the best interest of officers.”

These 1-day workshops will be held at The Georgian Club, 100 Galleria Pkwy., Suite 1700, Atlanta, GA 30339, 9am-4pm, on September 16th, 23rd, and 30th. For registration and details, visit: http://go.ibarcriticalthinkingmethod.com/workshops-1 or call: (678) 698-3386 directly.

About Georgia P.O.S.T.:

It is the mission of the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (P.O.S.T.) to provide the citizens of Georgia with qualified, professionally-trained, ethical and competent peace officers and criminal justice professionals.

About MARTA:

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) provides bus and rapid rail service to the Atlanta metropolitan area. The ninth-largest transit system in the United States, MARTA serves an average of more than 550,000 passengers a day.

About Core Edge Image & Charisma Institute, Inc.:

Core Edge Image & Charisma Institute is an applied research and Internet marketing company that creates digital products and services to solve problems in niche markets. Core Edge Image & Charisma Institute was founded in Atlanta in 2002.

For media inquiries regarding IBAR Workshop individuals are encouraged to contact the Director of Communications, Wini Alexander directly at (410) 382-3479 or via email at info@core-edge.com. To learn more about the company, please visit: ibarcriticalthinkingmethod.com.

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How to Think Your Way to Greater Productivity and Prosperity 08/06 by IBAR Critical Thinking | Motivation Podcasts

2015-08-06T18:58:00.001-07:00

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2015-08-02T20:57:00.001-07:00

MARTA Police Chief and Senior Managers Train on the IBAR Critical Thinking Method to Improve Decision Making Skills

2015-05-14T21:53:00.002-07:00

For Immediate Release:

May 15, 2015

12:00PM (EST)

MARTA Police Chief and Senior Managers Train on the IBAR Critical Thinking Method to Improve Decision Making Skills

Atlanta, GA—May 15, 2015---Recently, IBAR Critical Thinking Method creator Edward Brown of Core Edge Image & Charisma Institute partnered with DC&T to train MARTA Police senior managers on how to solve problems more effectively to improve departmental operations and public services. IBAR is a critical thinking method influenced by the legal analysis used in American law schools. MARTA Police Chief Wanda Dunham felt that the department needed to focus more on critical thinking skills to ensure that departmental resources are being utilized efficiently.

Chief Dunham said, “The IBAR Critical Thinking Method effectively takes you through the critical thinking process with clarity and symmetry leading to a desired outcome. I like the system.”

IBAR is marketed to law enforcement agencies, educational institutions and workforce development programs to respond to the need for better critical thinking skills in the workplace.

For more information on the IBAR Critical Thinking Method certification, visit: http://elearning.coreedgecharisma.com or call: (678) 698-3386.

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2015-04-14T11:36:00.001-07:00

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2015-04-13T20:35:00.001-07:00

Smyrna (Georgia) is Not Ferguson or New York

2015-04-01T13:57:00.000-07:00

The recent shooting death of Nicholas Thomas by Smyrna Police administering an arrest warrant should not be viewed in the same light as police actions taken across the country. It is easy to put all police actions in the same box. However, to do so would create a contentious and endless cycle of blameworthiness. Suffice to say that in most police actions, an officer is responding to the overt actions of another individual. The point of contention becomes how an officer interpreted those actions.

Fortunately, WSB-TV has done an excellent job of bringing balance to the reporting of this incident. Since there reportedly is no video of all that transpired, we can decipher from a previous video that Mr. Thomas had a track record of encounters with the police. Because this information was introduced early, it quashed any comparisons between police actions taken in Ferguson, MO and New York. Although professional agitators would like to draw similar conclusions, none can be made. The cultural and political histories are different, which is why there were no violent protests in the streets of Atlanta.

Atlanta being the bedrock of the Civil Rights Movement may have effectively thwarted the stigma and volatility of less advantageous cities. Kudos to such advancements.

Edward Brown,M.S.

Former Atlanta police officer

Police Advocacy Commission (PAC)

Using Insecurity to Build Self-Discipline

2015-03-03T17:13:00.000-08:00

Edward Brown, M.S.

Dictionary.com defines Insecurity as a “Lack of confidence or assurance; self-doubt.” Some synonyms include instability, precariousness, shakiness and vulnerability. Insecurity is the feeling that you lack control and confidence in your outlook and position in life. You have a weak and shaky foundation in which you operate and anyone can cause emotional and psychological disruption. On some level, we all wrestle with insecurity. Just think of a time when you felt good about completing a project. You spent hours tweaking and perfecting it. In your imagination, you envisioned people marveling at your creativity. Then you showed your crown jewel to a loved one or co-worker. With a look of disapproval and confusion, they sheepishly said,” Oh, that’s nice.” At that moment, all you wanted to do was crawl under a rock. You vowed never to create anything ever again. Guess what? You didn’t. These moments where insecurity got the best of you can be proportional to the degree that you exercise self-discipline. After all, if no one cares about trying new things, why should you? And it is painful to be ridiculed by friends, loved ones and strangers.

By thinking in these terms, you are actually being rational. Who wants to be ridiculed for being creative and taking chances? However, what is the personal cost for happiness over a lifetime when you are driven by your insecurities? And what impact does self-discipline have over insecurities?

The road that most people take is to allow insecurity to impact their lives negatively. By being progressively selfish, you can not only develop greater self-discipline, but also build a life of happiness. Progressive selfishness is the notion that you act predominately in your self-interest as a mode of behavior and as a means of achieving goals that benefit you and society. Conversely, regressive selfishness is the notion that for you to win someone has to lose. With regressive selfishness, the other person not only has to lose, but also must be humiliated and annihilated.

There are a few ways to use your insecurities to build your self-discipline to become happier and successful through progressive selfishness.

Here are a few ways to start the process.

Use your insecurities as a catalyst for success. Psychologists postulate that people are motivated more by the loss of something over its gain. Consequently, fear can be a motivator. Your fear of ridicule, shame, failure or solitude can actually move you to do phenomenal things. It has been suggested that President John F. Kennedy was viewed by his father and people who knew him as a youth as wayward and unfocused. His brother Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. was seen as having the greatest promise among the Kennedy family. After Joseph was killed in World War II, John became the person anointed to position the family within politics. A great deal of Kennedy’s motivation came from a desire to please his father (Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr.) as well as prove to the world that he could make a contribution. Use and overcome your insecurities as a means of showing the world your true value. Although you may experience degrees of setback and failure, your self-confidence will grow as you develop the self-discipline to follow through on projects. The major difference between success and failure is the ability to keep plugging away at a problem until there is a breakthrough.

Begin with a general interest and whittle it down. For 60-plus years, experts in the field of motivation and peak performance have regaled the importance of passion. At its core, passion is the emotional energy that pushes action forward. If passion were part of a car, it would be the engine. Once you fuel passion with action, it moves you closer to your goals. However, as you are moving, you will find your concentration getting more specific. You might start with a passion for baking desserts. Then your passion may whittle down to baking just cakes. And finally, only baking chocolate cakes. In this vein, as you develop self-discipline in your area of expertise, you start experimenting with different types of chocolate. Generally, the whittling down process leads you to the core of your motivation. The more specific you become, the more expertise you gain. This expertise builds confidence and acclaim.

Commit to the self-discipline process. Self-confidence is merely a record of successful achievements. Winners who have overcome life’s obstacles have gained a self-assuredness derived from a string of successes. Action and follow through is the core to achieving influence and distinction. Whether it’s weight loss, business development or educational plans, the ability to stay the course, learning and growing along the way, is the key to success and happiness. You must love the process from the passion you possess to stay motivated. Always do what’s necessary at the time it should be done. And don’t delegate or pass the responsibility on to someone else. Self-discipline is a skill. If you delegate your responsibilities to someone else, the other person will become the expert with great self-confidence. That is how someone willing to do the work that you will not steals your ideas.

Now you know the secret to turning your insecurities into success through self-discipline. You must create a mission to show the world your value, find a passion, whittle it down to its infinitesimal parts, and stay the course by sticking to the process. In the end, you will not only have developed self-discipline and self-confidence, you will have created a new life.

Edward Brown, M.S., is a content marketer and applied researcher for Core Edge Image & Charisma Institute, Inc., which develops educational digital products for corporations and law enforcement agencies. He has advanced legal training from the University of Dayton School of Law and a master’s degree from Mercer University in Leadership Development.

Secrets to Extraordinary Self-Discipline, by clicking: Get Me Started Now!

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Charisma Today

Virtual Paralegals Help In-House Paralegals to Succeed

Why Personal Injury Attorneys Need Virtual Paralegals

IBAR Critical Thinking Method Inventor Creates New Word for the Study of Critical Thinking

5 Trends & Predictions in Corporate Training for 2016

How to Create Your Future with Superior Critical Thinking Skills

Don't Worry, in the New "Age of Reason," You'll Be Smarter

How to Make Education Sexier

Does SWOT Analysis Beat the IBAR Critical Thinking Method?

How Geeks, Odd Balls and Underdogs Shape Our Intelligence

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How Millennials Can Beat the Competition on College

In a highly competitive world, can you afford not to be smarter?

Is Your Brain Working?

Can You Afford Not to Be Smarter?

State of Georgia P.O.S.T. Accredits IBAR Critical Thinking Method

How to Think Your Way to Greater Productivity and Prosperity 08/06 by IBAR Critical Thinking | Motivation Podcasts

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MARTA Police Chief and Senior Managers Train on the IBAR Critical Thinking Method to Improve Decision Making Skills

Quieting Parental Fears: Preparing Your Child for College

Why College Grads Can't Get Hired

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Using Insecurity to Build Self-Discipline

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