Critical Thinking
At a glance
Course Overview
In today's fast-paced, data-rich business environment, critical thinking is no longer just a soft skill—it's a competitive advantage. Business professionals are inundated with information, complex challenges, and demands from stakeholders who want rapid, insightful decisions.
This critical thinking course will equip you with essential decision-making frameworks to analyze situations with logic and articulate your ideas clearly. Whether you're looking to strengthen your problem-solving and decision-making skills or enhance your communication style at work, this course will make you a confident decision maker who delivers impactful results.
Skills you’ll master:
- Tackle complex issues with frameworks such as logic trees.
- Communicate persuasively with diverse audiences through structured arguments and tailored messages.
- Facilitate group decision-making and gain support for your ideas.
Who should enroll
- Decision makers who want to enhance their analytical thinking and boost work performance
- Professionals seeking to strengthen their skills of persuasion
- Leaders who must communicate decisions to various stakeholders both internal and external
Course content
Day 1
Learn the foundations of critical thinking in business and techniques for building logical arguments.
Day 2
Practice deriving conclusions from various data and supporting your arguments with evidence.
Day 3
Understand the steps in the problem-solving process.
Case: Planet Consulting: Submission to the President
Day 4
Apply problem-solving skills to real-life situations using the case method.
Case: Enjoy Glasses Co. Ltd.
Day 5
Learn time-tested techniques and frameworks for clear, logical communication.
Day 6
Practice your enhanced communication skills to persuade an audience and gain support for your ideas.
Class Schedule
April 2026 Term
| Session | Date | Day | Time | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | April 11, 2026 | Saturday | 9AM - 12PM (WIB) | Online |
| Day 2 | April 25, 2026 | Saturday | Online | |
| Day 3 | May 9, 2026 | Saturday | Online | |
| Day 4 | May 23, 2026 | Saturday | Hybrid: Online/In-person | |
| Day 5 | June 6, 2026 | Saturday | Online | |
| Day 6 | June 20, 2026 | Saturday | Hybrid: Online/In-person |
About Hybrid Online/In-Person Classes:
All class sessions can be joined online.
In-person sessions will take place in central Jakarta (exact location to be shared with students). Enjoy meeting your classmates and lecturer in person if you are participating on site. There is a lunch gathering after classes on Day 4 and Day 6, courtesy of GLOBIS.
Lecturer
Brian Cathcart
Brian Cathcart is in charge of global human resources for GLOBIS Corporation. His responsibilities include recruiting, training and development, and incorporating DEI policies and programs. He is also a program coordinator for the G1 Global Conference, which brings over 250 VIPs to Tokyo every year to discuss challenges facing Asia and the world.
Prior to GLOBIS, Brian was a research associate for the Japan Center for International Exchange, an independent think tank promoting Japan’s engagement in foreign affairs. His work combined business principles with his training in human security for projects that empowered survivors of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, in collaboration with the Asia Foundation in Sri Lanka. He is also trained and certified as a mediator in Massachusetts.
Brian is a recipient of the Fulbright and Japanese Ministry of Education (Monkasho) research scholarships at Kyushu University and the University of Tokyo. He earned his MBA from GLOBIS University, his MA in law and diplomacy from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, and a BA summa cum laude from Tufts University.
At GLOBIS University, he teaches Critical Thinking and assists with faculty training and curriculum development.
Extracurricular Activities
Apart from the 6 sessions (18 hours) of learning above, the course also includes extracurricular activities such as study sessions, seminars, keynote speaker sessions, and networking opportunities with GLOBIS’s global network.
Study Sessions
Proper preparation and reflection are key to a successful learning journey at GLOBIS Indonesia. Join study sessions with other professionals to review what you have learned from the previous session, prepare for the next one, and share how you have been applying your takeaways at work.
Seminars
As part of the GLOBIS community, gain access to a number of workshops, panel discussions, and seminars both online and on-site held by GLOBIS University. Expose yourself to a variety of topics covering the latest advances in AI, robotics, startups, and much more.
Executive Keynote Speaker Sessions
To take practical learning to another level, GLOBIS Indonesia invites corporate executives based in Indonesia who are experts in their related fields to sit down with our Pre-MBA participants in a roundtable setting. Gain firsthand knowledge and insights about global business practices and discuss a variety of business topics taking place in Indonesia, Japan, or worldwide.
Networking Events
GLOBIS holds regular networking events to connect different course participants and campuses with each other. Tap into the extensive network Japan’s largest business school has to offer, obtain inspiration and connections from fellow professionals and lecturers, and find new life-long friends on a global scale.