Critical Thinking for Business



Overview

A practical introduction to critical thinking for professionals who want to improve decision-making, reduce conflict and work more effectively with others, no matter their role or background. 

Learn how to apply reflection, reasoning and real-world awareness to everyday challenges, helping you solve problems earlier and respond with clarity when the unexpected happens. Practising critical thinking can reduce stress, improve team performance and increase job satisfaction while strengthening your organisational culture. 

Through practical tools and real-world examples, you’ll explore how to: 

  • improve your analytical judgement 

  • enhance emotional intelligence 

  • strengthen collaboration and workplace relationships 

  • deliver better outcomes for your clients and teams 

This course is ideal for managers, entrepreneurs, leaders and team members who want to make sharper decisions, improve how they work with others and build more empowered, accountable teams. 

Programme details

This course adopts the following intensive structure to make the most of your valuable time. 

Case Studies: Critical Thinking in Business

We present a number of real-life case studies in which critical thinking has led to effective business outcomes.

  • Intellectual Property
  • Music Royalties
  • Market Acquisition

The Criticality Trajectory

We explore best practice in critical thinking via an exploration of our Criticality Trajectory (depicted below).

You will first be taken through three research-backed models of assessing critical thinking:

  1. The RED (Recognise assumptions, Evaluate arguments, Draw conclusions) model from Pearson's Watson-Glaser II Critical Thinking Appraisal
  2. Halpern’s Critical Thinking Assessment, and
  3. Bloom’s Taxonomy.

These will serve as background knowledge during a practical activity in which you will learn how to undertake a critical thinking audit, and appraise some common indicators of a deficit in critical thinking:

  • An absence of business strategy
  • Rapid changes in business strategy
  • Intra-team conflicts

These indicators will be considered alongside signs of a sufficiency of critical thinking, such as work being completed on time and to an appropriate standard.

You will then be guided through the five key steps involved in an organisation audit of critical thiking.

  1. Assess a Business Product
    This can be virtually anything concrete such as a physical product, a report, or a debrief on an individual or team task.
  2. Ask all stakeholders and participants to describe the requirement to the auditor. This should ideally be done on both an individual and group basis. 
  3. Invite honest judgements on the effectiveness of the product
  4. Invite honest assessments of the implications of the work
  5. Competencies to Assess
  • Observation
  • Problem solving
  • Team cohesion
  • Communication
  • Open mindedness
  • Tolerance for ambiguity
  • Time efficiency
  • Deduction
  • Inference
  • Retroduction/ abductive reasoning

Accessing your course 

Further details will be emailed to you two weeks ahead of your course, this will include registration information and an overview of the course timetable.

Please get in touch if you have not received this information within five working days of the course start date. 

In the meantime, you may wish to plan your travel: Travel information

Digital Certification

In order to be eligible for a certificate of attendance, you will need to attend the whole course. Participants who meet this criteria will contacted by email after the end of the course with instructions on how to download their University of Oxford digital certificate.

The certificate will show your name, the course title and the dates of the course you attended. You will be able to download your certificate, or share it on social media if you choose to do so.

Fees

Description Costs
Course Fee £685.00

Payment

Fees include course materials, tuition, refreshments and lunch. The price does not include accommodation. 

All courses are VAT exempt. 

Register immediately online  

Click the 'Book now' button on this webpage. Payment by credit or debit card is required. 

Request an invoice 

If you require an invoice for your company or organisation, please email us to request an online enrolment form. Payment is then accepted online, by credit/debit card, or by bank transfer. 

Tutor

Oxford Oracle Ltd

Oxford Oracle

This course will be delivered by team members from Oxford Oracle.

Oxford Oracle is a global firm headquartered in Oxford. Its consultancy activities focus on Business Strategy, Innovation, R&D, Higher Education and Entrepreneurship. The Oracle's primary driver is to engage in truly useful innovation whilst forging lasting partnerships.

Application

If you would like to discuss your application or any part of the application process before applying, please click 'Ask a Question' at the top of this page.

Accommodation

Although not included in the course fee, accommodation may be available at our on-site Rewley House Residential Centre. All bedrooms are en suite and decorated to a high standard, and come with tea- and coffee-making facilities, free Wi-Fi access and Freeview TV. Guests can take advantage of the excellent dining facilities and common room bar, where they may relax and network with others on the programme.

To check prices, availability and to book rooms please visit the Rewley House Residential Centre website. 

Enrolled students are entitled to discounted accommodation rates for the purpose of study, at Rewley House, and can contact the administration team for the promotional code to use for making online accommodation bookings via the website.

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support