NASPAA Competency: To Analyze, Synthesize, Think Critically, Solve Problems, and Make Decisions

• Personal Reflection: What does this competency mean to you as a professional and why is it important?

Critical thinking and decision-making are very important in developing a career in general. As a government agency professional, critical thinking and decision making are foundational components that I need to help ensure success in the government and nonprofit sector. Within government agencies specifically, with the advent of federal funding decreasing yearly, leadership in government agencies must be able to think critically and make decisions that are both efficient and effective to handle increased client demand. I believe that these particular attributes work together in helping  leaders in government agencies be more successful. I believe that critical thinking and decision-making are essential in developing leaders because these particular attributes help develop the knowledge, skills, and abilities that help ensure long-term success.

Artifact: Legal Casino Gambling An opportunity for Tax Revenue in Tennessee

• How does this artifact demonstrate an enhanced understanding of this competency?

This particular artifact is an excellent example of how critical thinking and decision- making are used by professionals. It is important that in the analysis of the gaming issue that all opportunities and issues are explained and that all stakeholders are considered. This artifact does that. The memo thoroughly analyzes gaming from its inception in the United States to what other states are doing currently. In addition, this memo explains the positive revenue opportunities that gaming provides but also considers the negative aspects of what gaming creates. Most importantly, in making recommendation to lawmakers this artifact used a weighted scoring system that considered all scenarios that gaming could be implemented under and all stakeholders that would be affected from a positive and negative point of view. This policy analysis memo gives an example of how an administrator makes decisions by giving lawmakers options so they can make intelligent decisions. Although the administrator in this memo does not make the final decision, the recommendation provided is based on good information were a lawmaker can feel comfortable in making a decision.

• Application: How would you use what you learned about this competency in the workplace or in your career?

Previously, I wrote about how critical thinking and decision making was very important in the government sector. Many times due to increased client demand, budget shortfalls and federal mandates decisions have to be made on how to service the public better. As an employee with the Tennessee Dept of Human Services (DHS) I have had the opportunity to use these attributes at my workplace. Last year, I was asked to participate in a focus group that included management in designing new ways of changing internal processes that will be more effective and efficient to the DHS internal and external client. In that focus group we were able to look at the whole process critically and make recommendations based on good information. That experience benefits me because I understand how to use those attributes to help me be a better leader. I understand that these attributes work well in helping leaders make effective and efficient decisions within the agency or program.

• Lifelong learning:  What areas will you seek to gain greater knowledge in to further your mastery of this competency throughout your career? Describe some specific resources or materials that you would use to further your knowledge

In thinking about critical thinking and decision-making I believe that the two attributes can be separated although they work together. In my opinion, I believe that critical thinking is more important than decision making because the critical thinking attribute directly affects the decision making attribute. In my quest to gain greater knowledge about this competency I would request more opportunities to participate in things that will allow me to develop my critical thinking skills. I believe that this route would be the most effective way to assist in my leadership development; rather than going to professional conferences/seminars and reading professional journals and periodicals.