A Comparison of the Use of Strategic Thinking Skills of Aspiring School Leaders in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Shanghai, and the United States: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 4pt; line-height: 12pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Cognition is the way we use mental skills to acquire knowledge, manipulate ideas, and process new information and beliefs. The Strategic Thinking Questionnaire (STQ), which measures three such skills – systems thinking – reframing – reflection, was used to collect data from students preparing for school leadership roles at four universities in the United States (USA), Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Shanghai. It was thought that the use of these skills might vary from country to country because of western and eastern cultural norms. Based on self-reported data from 328 educators preparing for school leadership roles we concluded that the use of strategic thinking skills were found in all locations but the variance in their use is more a function of age of respondents, and gender rather than location. These findings have implications for training, professional development, and selection of aspiring leaders. </span></span></p

A Comparative Study on the Level of Strategic Thinking among Ethnic Entrepreneurs in Sabah

“…Previous studies have shown differences in cultural dimensions as well as management styles between ethnicity and culture. A study by Pisapia, Pang, FattHee and Morris [32]on the level of strategic thinking implementation among aspiring school leaders in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Shanghai, and United States reveal that school leaders of USA show the greater level of strategic thinking skills instead of other countries. Another empirical study conducted in Malaysia by Mohd.…”

Effect of Strategic Thinking Skills on Dimensions of Competitive Advantage: Empirical Evidence from Jordan

“…It enables executives to classify opportunities and strategic options so that focus continues to be sharp on vital component of strategic issues. It also helps them to see threats and problems in a clear manner allowing them to map out options and identify trends ahead of other competitors, (Pisapia, 2009). …”

“…Reflecting refers to the ability of a leader to integrate logical and rational thinking processes together using experience, perception and information to make sound judgement about certain state of affair then initiate a concept that guides what would happen at present and help guide the future perspective (Pisapia, 2009). …”

“…It is that holistic capable mind which can be able to define the entire situation and breaking it downs into manageable parts to facilitate identifying suitable solutions, (Pisapia, 2009). …”

“…In an important multi-cultural study conducted by Pisapia et al (2009), Cognition was viewed as the way human uses mental processing to acquire knowledge, manipulate ideas, and process information and beliefs. The Strategic Thinking Questionnaire (STQ), which measures three such mental process (systems thinking, reframing and reflection), was used in this research to collect data from samples of students who are preparing for school leadership roles at four universities in the United States, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Shanghai in China.…”