TECHNIQUES FOR DEVELOPING EXECUTIVE DECISION AND THINKING SKILLS

THE ARMY HAS LONG RECOGNIZED THAT A CRITICAL PART OF ITS LEADER DEVELOPMENT PROCESS IS INSTILLING IN EXECUTIVES THE REQUIRED DECISION-MAKING AND THINKING SKILLS. THE DIFFERENT MAJOR MILITARY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS HAVE INSTITUTED EXECUTIVE TRAINING PROGRAMS, EACH OF WHICH HAS DEVELOPED ITS OWN INNOVATIVE METHODS AND PEDAGOGICAL APPROACH. WHAT IS LACKING IS A THEORY TO TIE TOGETHER, EVALUATE, AND IMPROVE THESE DIVERSE APPROACHES. THE PROPOSED RESEARCH REPRESENTS AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO TEACHING EXECUTIVE AND DECISION SKILLS, BASED ON RECENT RESEARCH FINDINGS ABOUT HOW EXECUTIVES AND OTHER EXPERTS ENCODE AND USE KNOWLEDGE. OUR INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS ARE BASED ON AN EXPLICIT STRATEGY OF DEVELOPING IN STUDENTS THE KINDS OF KNOWLEDGE STRUCTURES FOUND IN SUCCESSFUL EXECUTIVES. IN ADDITION, OUR KNOWLEDGE REPRESENTATION THEORY HAS SPURRED A THEORY FOR KNOWLEDGE ELICITATION, WHICH CAN BE USED AS A TOOL FOR EVALUATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF OUR TRAINING METHODS.