There is abundant literature on thinking methods for managers and executives. Critical thinking, design thinking, creativity, divergent thinking, systems thinking and integrative thinking are all models of thinking that relate to corporate innovation, decision-making, strategy and leadership.
Critical thinking
"Critical thinking may be defined as the art of continuous questioning and analysis of two sides of an argument, problem, or context. Furthermore, the ability to think critically requires human beings to embrace a world free of orthodox views and/or sectarian, social norms, in a continuous effort to search for the essence of truth and expand the knowledge base. Critical thinking is an imperative for a cohesive social order as well as the development of an interdependent global focus."
Source: Encyclopedia of the Social and Cultural Foundations of Education, Sage, 2009
Design Thinking
According to Roger Martin, dean of the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto, design thinking is "the productive combination of the inductive and deductive logic of analytical thinking with the abductive logic of intuitive thinking that enables the movement forward of knowledge from Mystery to Heuristic or Heuristic to Algorithm. It's a process of innovation that analytical thinking doesn't generate and intuitive thinking can't deliver with enough consistency to be economically viable."
Integrative Thinking
Integrative thinking involves studying existing business models which may be in opposition, and coming up with a new model that transcends existing ones.
Source: Roger Martin explores three big ideas: customer capitalism, integrative thinking and design thinking, Strategy & Leadership, 2011, 39:4
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