Critical Thinking: The Zia Prep Academy Case

Abstract

This paper discusses a case called “The Zia Prep Academy” that was developed to hone a person’s critical thinking skill set in the context of structuring an agreement in the rehiring of a key executive. A detailed discussion is provided in how to set up an employee’s contract and project plan given the potential for strategic deception and misaligned expectations. Critical thinking skills require students to integrate framing project work in a work breakdown structure for the Zia Prep Academy Superintendent and then to decide what work is not necessary over her next term of employment. Essential versus non-essential information is presented as student’s process what is important to include in their overall analysis. Students must deal with the conditions of information compactedness, bounded rationality, and possible opportunism in writing the business case, or project plan, that accompanies the employee contract. The potential for strategic deception is present as uncertainty exists regarding the intentions of the school superintendent due to her proposed contract. Students work in traditional project management teams in writing a contract, business case, and financial analysis as part of the project plan. The outcome of this case is a greater understanding and ability in how to communicate key organizational requirements through team-based designs. The Zia Prep Academy case also facilitates one’s development of conceptualizing a problem and then reaching a reasoned, team-based conclusion.