Convergent thinking, also known as critical, vertical, analytical, or linear thinking, is the type of thinking that focuses on coming up with a single, correct solution to a problem or answer to a question. This problem-solving process results in the single best solution from a wide range of possibilities, based on a logical and methodical analysis of the situation. With convergent thinking, answers are either right or wrong. Business leaders use convergent thinking to make effective and timely decisions that give desired outcomes.
Examples of Convergent Thinking
1. Troubleshooting technical issues
Suppose an IT technician comes across a faulty computer. After examining, both software and hardware issues, the technician arrives at the best possible solution to fix the problem. In this case, the technician narrows down all possible solutions before choosing the best solution.
2. Finding the shortest route between two points on a map
When you travel and take the help of Google Maps, it suggests the best and shortest route to arrive at your destination. Google Maps gives this result after analyzing a lot of variables such as traffic conditions and weather conditions.
3. Diagnosing a medical condition
Doctors resort to convergent thinking while diagnosing a medical condition based on symptoms. After analyzing a lot of factors, doctors find the one true and objective cause of a person’s ailment.
4. Choosing a business strategy
While making business strategies, managers resort to convergent thinking to assess each strategy’s potential return on investment, the risks involved, etc. After analyzing and comparing various strategies, such as expanding its product line, entering a new market, or increasing its online presence, against the company’s objectives and current market conditions, managers can converge on one most suitable strategy to pursue.
5. Budget Planning
Convergent thinking is used by budget planners in organizations to draft a singular plan by distilling numerous data points and considerations into a focused financial roadmap. The planners consolidate various data including past expenses, future projections, and revenue forecasts, into a coherent budget that aligns with the organization’s goals.
6. Selecting the best candidate for a job
Employers resort to convergent thinking before selecting the best candidate for a job. They have to evaluate each candidate’s qualifications and experience, skills, family background, etc., to select the one who is the most suitable candidate for the job.
7. Choosing the winner of a competition
Every competition has usually one winner. Convergent thinking is used to compare the contestants and identify that one winner.
8. Quality Control
Convergent thinking is used by quality control experts to determine the cause of why a batch of products failed a particular test. After narrowing down various factors, they have to find the most reasonable cause and fix that accordingly so that the products meet the necessary standards.
9. Predicting the outcome of an experiment
Convergent thinking is a significant tool to formulate a hypothesis. Amid a wide range of possible outcomes, you have to decide which single outcome is the most likely.
10. College Admissions
Every college has limited seats in a specific program. Convergent thinking is used to select students for a limited number of slots in a prestigious program by narrowing down the list based on specific criteria, such as GPA, extracurricular activities, and letters of recommendation.
11. Choosing Stocks
Convergent thinking is useful when it comes to choosing which stock to invest in. Before investing in stocks, confident decisions have to be made based on market analysis and a lot of uncertain predictions.
12. Choosing Travel Destinations
While deciding where to spend your vacations, you resort to convergent thinking by narrowing down various factors, such as budget, accessibility, lodging facility, and tourist spots.