Thinking is important to any individual because it represents the ability for that individual to "think outside the box."  My thinking ability has helped me distinguish myself from other people.  I am able to think about situations analytically and creatively.  This helps me produce solutions to problems, apply critical thinking to different situations, and continuously learn.  Two examples that come to mind when reflecting on my ability to think things through are my moshpit project and my case analysis with Chiquita banana, a company with a gang problem.

Since 2002, the Greater Baltimore Technology Counsel has held a competition every year where students from Maryland colleges and universities compete for a chance to start their own company.  It is a team competition and the prize is $10,000 cash, tickets to TechNite, and a free year office space at ETC at Johns Hopkins Eastern.  In 2008, there were a total of 100 ideas for starting a new business presented to the GBTC.  In my e-business class, we were given the same project but it was an individual business as opposed to a team business. 

My business was a hands-free window cleaner that was going to be marketed towards large businesses that spend a lot of money for window washing services to clean their office buildings.  I explained the technology and the need for the product on a website that I created.  Without my thinking abilities, I would not have had the creativity to think of the design or the reasoning behind the need for a hands-free window cleaner.  To view my website please click on http://tiger.towson.edu/~mmarie1/ebus311moshpit.htm. 

This project showed me the hardships of starting a new business.  It also helped me put my creativity to the test and work through the hardships of creating a new business.  I was able to take an idea that I created and make it into a real life business plan.  I developed the website, researched different aspects of the industry that my product would be in, and merged different technologies into one final product.

Another example of my thinking ability shows my ability to think through a problem and developed a well thought out solution.  This example is a case analysis on Chiquita Banana.  To view my case analysis, please click https://altezza24417.tripod.com/Chiquita_Banana_Case.doc.

The Chiquita Banana case analysis helped me test my thinking skills by applying ethics and reason to an issue that a real life company faced.  The issue was that a gang was threatening to hurt employees unless a portion of Chiquita's income was paid to them.  Using my thinking skill, I was able to develop a solution to a not-so-easily answered question. 

These two examples taught me how to apply my thinking abilities to different company related issues.  The examples taught me how to think through starting a new company and how to develop a solution to a hard problem.  This will benefit me in the future because I will face problems all the time.  My ability to think logically and creatively, depending on the situation, will enable me to continuously move forward in my future company.  My skill will allow me to think through future problems and solve them, without getting help up.

To read about my practical excellence skills please click Skill 4 Practical Excellence.