UNIT

Understanding Local Networks

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his unit introduces us to the idea and importance of a network for us human beings. A network

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can be understood as a group of people interacting regularly like families, peers, neighbors,
teachers, and managers. This network has a certain structure where members exchange and

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communicate information and experiences for both social and professional purposes. It is like

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connecting and chatting with our online friends in social media, engaging in a discussion with
our peers, visiting the members of our religious community, or volunteering for a community

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work in school.

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Our varied network of relationships is enhanced by technology regardless of our location. These

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patterns are the points on which we ground our understanding of the relationships that make up
the structure. The social structures that we create and_where we belong are indeed networked.
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Our human existence and relationships are nested in both local ' and global networks that
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constitute meaning and action. We are invited to ' look at the network of relationships that
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continue to shape our personal and social life. .

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Learning Outcomes:
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Having worked through this unit, you should be better able to

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 define network and its importance to relationships and organizations;

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 explain strategic analysis and intuitive thinking; and

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 attain facility in strategic analysis by mapping out power relations in their community.
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Lesson 2
Understanding Local Networks

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This introduces the idea and importance of a network for human

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beings. A gathering of individuals we interface consistently family,

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companions, neighbors, instructors and managers. Network is a group

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of people whom we interact daily.

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Our personal relations have structures.The systems of relations

inside which every individual is inserted which include family,
companions,colleagues and technology enhances the varied
networks regardless of our location.

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A network is a group of people whom we interact daily. Our

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relationships are networked. If you look at nature, networks are

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everywhere. The cellular network in the human brain, for instance, is

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an amazing network that makes human life possible.

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Networks are a ‘set of nodes and set of ties’ (Brass, 1994: 42). The
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things that are connected are usually called nodes. A node might be
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a person, a computer or even a hyperlinked text. The connections
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between hubs are called “associations” and here and there called
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“edges”. They are relations that bind the tie or even make the ties
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suffer. It is imperative for leaders and managers to precisely see the

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system relations that associate individuals and to effectively oversee

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them. Awareness concerning social networks is important to the

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extent that people are uncertain who is connected to whom. It is a

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means of developing contact and exchange of information. It

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provides us the opportunity to interact with people outside of our

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regular social circle. It is vital also to entrepreneurs, professionals, and

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job seekers.
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Networks are analyzed in terms of density, hierarchy,

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multiplexity, interdependence and embeddedness:

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Density- The density of a network is based on the number of

connections between and among the actors. According to Kilduf
and Tsai, the higher the number, the denser the system.The density of
a network depicts the potential associations in a system that are
genuine associations while a potential connection is an association

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that could possibly exists between two “hubs” paying little respect to
regardless of whether it really does.

Hierarchy- Actors in the network can pull their investments in

social relations by establishing relations with a diverse set of groups in
the community (preferably groups that are not connected to each
other), rather than establishing all of their relationships with members
of one group.

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Complexity- Complexity is the extent to which a link between
actors served a multiplicity of interests in the community. The more

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complex relations have considered have higher tie strength.

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Complexity also represents the extent to which two people are bound

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to each other in different social grounds.

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Interdependence- The ties in the network can be useful in
facilitating change and reform. The interdependence of social ties in
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a community produces benefits for actors and members.
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Interdependence facilitates cooperation and creates social capital

necessary for the progress of the community. Social capital is the
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accumulated benefits as a result of the maintenance of a positive

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relationship between different groups and associations in the

community.
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Embeddedness- The networks of relations within each person is

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rooted include family, friends, and acquaintances. To be sure,

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business associations themselves are held together by formal relations

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of power as well as by casual connections that interface individuals

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crosswise over departmental and progressive limits.

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Global Networks
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"Birds of the same feather flock together"

Our relationships are networked. They might have said this in

references to the way others would judge us according to our friends
or people who we interact everyday.They are the type of people who

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surround and share ourselves so it means we have similarities with our
values and tradition so we have a networked with them.

"Networks are everywhere"

"Institutions and organizations significantly see the importance of

radical connectedness with their networks, partners, and alliances to
compete and create value".

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Do you know what is the meaning of network? A Network is a
group of people whom we interact daily and it happens each time

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we take an interest in a school, get together, visit from our religious

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gathering, chat with our neighbors and interface with companions on

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the web.

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Networks are a 'set of nodes and the set of ties' (Brass, 1999:42)
The things that are connected are usually called nodes. A node might
be a person, computer or even a hyperlinked text. The connection
between hubs are called associations and here and there are
called edges. They are relations that bind the tie or even make the
ties suffer.

Networks are analyzed in terms of:

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⚫ Density – the degree of compactness of a substance;
Density describes how compact or concentrated something is. For

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example, suppose you have two boxes, one large and one small.

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However, they both weigh the same. That means the small box has

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a higher density than the large box. Density also tells how

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concentrated or crowded something is. You may have heard of

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population density. In a city, there are many people packed into a
small area, giving it a high population density. In a rural area, there
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are more fields or wooded areas between houses. That means
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there are fewer people living in a larger area, which is why it has a
low population density. Density means :
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o tightness
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⚫ Hierarchy - a system or organization in which people or groups

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are ranked one above the other according to status or authority.

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Hierarchy describes a system that organizes or ranks things, often

according to power or importance. At school the principal is at
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the top of the staff hierarchy, while the seniors rule the
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student hierarchy. Also known as a pecking order or power

structure, a hierarchy is a formalized or simply implied
understanding of who's on top or what's most important. All that
sorting and ranking can be helpful if you're a business
administrator, but if you find yourself arranging all the produce in
your fridge according to a hierarchy of color, size, and expiration

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date, you might want to consider visiting a therapist. Which of
the following is the best example of a hierarchy?
o a local radio station broadcasting the weather report
o a birthday party at a roller skating rink
o a military regiment led by a commanding officer

⚫ Multiplexity – communicates two or more signals over a

common channel; many and varied, having many features or

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forms

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⚫ Interdependence -Interdependence is mutual dependence

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between things. If you study biology, you’ll discover that there is

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a great deal of interdependence between plants and animals.

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Inter- means "between," so interdependence is dependence

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between things. We often use interdependence to describe

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complex systems. Marriage creates a state of interdependence
between spouses. If your dog provides you with love and
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happiness, and you provide your dog with food and walks (and
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love and happiness), then your relationship with your dog is one
of interdependence.
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⚫ Embeddedness - refers to the degree to which economic

activity is constrained by non-economic institutions. The term
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was created by economic historian Karl Polanyi as part of his

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substantivist approach.
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Doing Social Analysis Through Network Mapping

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Analyzing networks in an organization or a community exposes

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us to the myriads of power relations, connections, issues, and its

problems. Making critical analysis of these networks of relationships
enables us to obtain a more complete picture of a social situation or
phenomena. It provides a basis for solidarity with our brothers and
sisters since we, as a human family, are networked and
interdenpendent. Our love for our neighbor creates global dimensions
in our interconnected world.
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THE INTUITIVE AND THE
STRATEGIC THINKER

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Strategic Thinking and Intuitive Thinking Defined
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Greg Githens defined strategic thinking as the individual’s

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capacity for thinking conceptually, imaginatively, systematically, and

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opportunistically with regard to the attainment of success in the

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future.
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He continued by saying that strategic thinking employs mental

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process that we conceptual (abstractions using analogy to translate

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across contexts), systematic (composed of different components with

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interfaces that interact to produce intended or emergent behaviors,

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pattern finding, and connecting situations that are not obviously

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related), imaginative (creative and visual), and opportunistic

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(searching for and grasping new information and value propositions).

the strategic thinker applies all of these cognitive processes in the
orientation toward future success.

Intuitive thinking is “quick and ready insight” (Webster’s New

Collegiate Dictionary).

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Intuitive decision-making is far more than using common sense
because it involves additional sensors to perceive and get aware of
the information from outside. Sometimes, it is referred to as gut feeling,
sixth sense, inner sense, instinct, inner voice, spiritual guide, etc.

The following are some well-known people of intuition.

1. Albert Einstien (Theoretical physicist who is widely considered one

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of the greatest physicist of all tome; best known for the theory of

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relativity, Nobel prize in Physics for his explanation of the photoelectric
effect and “for his services to Theoretical Physics”)

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✓ The only real valuable ting is intuition.

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✓ There is no longer way to the discover of these elemental laws.

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There is only the way of intuition, which is helped by a feeling for

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the order lying behind the appearance. ab
2. John Naisbitt (Former executive of IBM and Eastman Kodak;
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American writer in the area of futures studies; author of several

international best sellers like Megatrends and Reinventing the
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Corporation):
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✓ Intuition becomes increasingly valuable in the new information

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society precisely because there is so much data.

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3. Alexis Carrel (French surgeon, biologist, and eugenicist; Nobel Prize

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in Physiology or Medicine):
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✓ All great men are gifted with intuition. They know without reasoning
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or analysis what they need to know.

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4. Henry Reed (British poet)

✓ Intuition is the very force or activity of the soul in its experience

through whatever has been the experience of the soul itself.

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5. Immanuel Kant (German Philosopher)

✓ Intuition and concept constitute… elements of all our knowledge,

so that neither concepts without an intuition in some way
corresponding to them, nor intuition without concepts, can yield
knowledge.

6. George Crumb (American Composer of Modern and advent grade

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music);

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✓ In general, I feel that the more rationalistic approaches to pitch-

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organization, including specifically serial technique, have given

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way, largely, to a more intuitive approach.

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7. Robert Graves (English Poet, scholar, and Novelist);

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✓ Intuition is the supra-logic that cuts out all the routine processes of
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thought and leaps straight from the problem to the answer.
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8. Lao Tzu (ancient Chinese philosopher)

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✓ The power of intuitive understanding will protect you from harm

until the end of your days.
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9. Anne Wilson Schaef (writer and lecturer);

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✓ Trusting our intuition often saves us from disaster.

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The questions are not whether rational reasoning or intuitive decision-

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making is generally better. The question is rather how both

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approaches can best combine for the best results and to avoid
mistakes and prejudices.

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ACTIVITY 1

SWOT Analysis
Objectives: To evaluate Enhance Community Quarantine Implementation using
SWOT Analysis.
Directions: Using SWOT Analysis, evaluate and assess the enhance community quarantine
implementation of Philippine government during Covid-19 Pandemic. (list at least 10 each analysis)

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Strengths Weaknesses

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Opportunities Threats
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ACTVITY 2

Strategic or Intuitive?
Objectives: To differentiate intuitive thinking and strategic analysis through applying
and dealing with different situations
Directions: Using your understanding about strategic analysis and intuitive thinking, decide whether
each situation requires intuitive thinking or strategic analysis. Provide a short explanation of your
answer.

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1. A group of policemen trying to catch the snatcher

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______________________________________________________________________________

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______________________________________________________________________________
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2. A family wanting to buy a house in a subdivision

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3. A nurse running to the patients in the emergency room

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4. A lawyer solving a murder case

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5. A group of researchers solving climate change

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______________________________________________________________________________
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Guide Questions:
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1. What is the difference between strategic analysis and intuitive thinking?

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2. How can you use intuitive thinking and analysis in dealing with your personal
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issues in life?
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3. How can you improve your intuitive thinking and strategic analytic skills?
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