Return to course

LinkedIn Learning
Question 4 of 12
You have a team member who is a bit inflexible; they are prone to doing their job without much reflection and they do not like change. Which pitfalls likely impact their critical thinking?

Select an answer:
being unwilling to change the problem space, and failing to consider implications
failing to consider similar situations in unrelated areas, and not understanding the fundamental causes
focusing on things that do not matter, and not using the 80/20 rule
jumping to answers too quickly, and not teaching others their methods

being unwilling to change the problem space, and failing to consider implications

The pitfalls that likely impact the critical thinking of a team member who is inflexible and resistant to change include:

- Being unwilling to change the problem space: This means that they are not open to exploring different approaches or perspectives when facing a problem or challenge, which can limit their ability to find innovative solutions.
- Failing to consider implications: The team member might not fully consider the potential consequences or long-term effects of their actions or decisions. This can lead to shortsighted thinking and overlooking important factors.
- Failing to consider similar situations in unrelated areas: By not drawing connections or seeking insights from unrelated areas, the team member may miss out on valuable lessons or alternative approaches that could be applied to their work.
- Not understanding the fundamental causes: Rather than digging deeper to understand the root causes of a problem or issue, they may simply address the surface-level symptoms without truly resolving the underlying issues.

In summary, the individual's lack of flexibility and resistance to change can hinder their critical thinking abilities, leading them to overlook important considerations, fail to explore alternative options, and potentially miss out on valuable insights from unrelated areas.

To find the answer, we need to understand the concept of critical thinking and its potential pitfalls. Critical thinking involves the ability to objectively analyze and evaluate information, which helps in making informed decisions. Let's go through the answer choices one by one and determine which pitfalls are likely to impact the team member's critical thinking.

1. Being unwilling to change the problem space and failing to consider implications:
This pitfall suggests that the team member is resistant to changing their perspective or considering the broader implications of their actions. It implies a lack of adaptability and a narrow focus on their job without considering the wider context. This option seems relevant to the described team member's behavior.

2. Failing to consider similar situations in unrelated areas and not understanding the fundamental causes:
This pitfall suggests that the team member fails to draw connections between unrelated situations and lacks an understanding of the underlying causes. While it is possible that this pitfall may also impact the team member's critical thinking, the description provided does not explicitly mention this behavior.

3. Focusing on things that do not matter and not using the 80/20 rule:
This pitfall suggests that the team member gets caught up in trivial details and does not prioritize their efforts effectively. While this pitfall may impact their efficiency, it may not directly relate to their critical thinking abilities.

4. Jumping to answers too quickly and not teaching others their methods:
This pitfall suggests that the team member tends to rush through problem-solving without fully exploring all possible solutions. Additionally, the team member does not actively share their knowledge or problem-solving approach with others. Although this pitfall may affect their overall performance, it may not specifically target their critical thinking abilities.

Based on the provided description, it is reasonable to conclude that the most likely pitfalls impacting the team member's critical thinking are:
- Being unwilling to change the problem space and failing to consider implications (Option 1)

Therefore, the correct answer to the question is:
- Being unwilling to change the problem space and failing to consider implications