Louisville Mojo: Critical Thinking In A Casino

Running head: Critical Thinking in a Casino

Abstract
What is 'Critical Thinking'? When an important decision needs to be made and there are choices to make one must think about the problem or issue, this process is the beginning of critical thinking. One will demonstrate the steps taken and the thought process used in the art of critical thinking in this paper. As a dealer in a casino critical thinking is important and complex. Management must have the critical thinking to manage dealers and perform duties of leadership. How does management assure that critical thinking steps are being taken to come to a valid and competent decision daily? The research will concentrate upon the application of critical thinking and the choices of wise decision making.
Critical Thinking
Understanding the benefits to thinking critically is key to understanding the importance of each of the critical thinking components. “Critical Thinking is the intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action,” (Paul & Scriven, 2004). From the statement made by Paul and Scriven, critical thinking is a process of applying decision making techniques and skills to come to a competent decision, or solution, for actions that need to be taken following a decision or a solution to a problem. This concept applied to everyday life becomes part of the thinking process for an individual when applied daily and consistently.
At the workplace, answers to questions need to be competent, timely, and effective for one to perform actions needed and competent decisions reached productively. This concept, used by the researcher, has proven the best criteria for performing duties in the workplace. Consistently weighing the outcome of one's decisions is critical in keeping employment. Sometimes the decision may not produce the outcome anticipated despite critical thinking steps, but decision modeling is imperative.
Application of Critical Thinking as a Dealer
Every day one must decide what to wear before leaving home and the appropriateness of the attire. Choosing the shortest route to take when traveling to the place of employment and being assertive by having adequate time for travel. Deciding to fuel the tank, add a quart of oil, or a candy bar for snack is important on the way to the workplace for added comfort. Thinking about where to park is another step in the critical thinking process when one arrives at the set destination. Choosing the entrance way is important because one entrance could be blocked, jammed by many attempting to get to work within time frame limits, or locked. Upon arrival, steps must be taken to ensure no concerns of tardiness, inappropriate appearance, guidelines of attire are met, personal belongings are placed in the proper area for storage (keys, purse, checkbook, etc.), prompt clocking in at the time clock (if a time clock is used), and work assignment for the day is understood by one. It is imperative to be on time, aware, personable, and knowledgeable of procedures, precise in all aspects of gaming, money distribution, and delivery of service in the casino industry. Taking into account all criteria are met by one at work, then it is time to service the guest.
Correct procedural gaming rules are taught by the employer and become an intricate part of the daily function of a dealer. All procedures are critical and one's performance must be accurate. Critical thinking is constant when handling $ 50,000.00 or more of a casino's money. Responsibilities of the casino cash can be stressful and demands thinking very carefully and precisely about what is in the float (storage in front of dealer on gaming table). After accuracy is checked by dealers, supervisors, and managerial representatives, the day begins for a dealer. The dealer is responsible for everything that happens at the game being dealt.
Discrepancies are dealt with severely and negative outcomes of actions can cost a dealer their career attained within a span of seconds. If critical thinking is unused by the dealer it would be the end of the line for that individual. All money must be accounted for and is counted at intervals.
The guest must be serviced and be dealt with adequately if a problem arises. If problems occur on live games it is the responsibility of the dealer to resolve the issue within allowable limits. If a resolution to a problem cannot be reached by the dealer with a guest, it is the responsibility of the dealer to inform management of all problems to attain permission and authority for effective solutions to be applied and implemented promptly.
If a dealer were void of critical thought processes in the delivery of cards, for example, the game being dealt would be invalid and assets would be immediately returned to the guest, causing loss of profits for the casino. Avoiding use of critical thinking during the counting of casino assets on a game would produce an incorrect count and jeopardize employment and induce negative results for the casino. All procedure is vital to the function of the dealer and the continuing efforts of the casino to provide exemplary service to guests.
Critical Thinking for Management
Management in a casino is expected to have critical thought about transactions being made, subordinates performance, guest needs, and company guidelines including ethical issues. These aspects that management has to think critically about in a casino, including the performance of the subordinates one is managing, are vital for the attainment of profits and service of guests. Management is not only the supervisor, but also the mentor for the dealer. Management functions in a casino daily to instill critical thinking steps to prevent conflict between the guest, casino, and dealer. Every procedure and demand made upon the dealer involves critical thinking which is a constant and must be used throughout the daily. This feat is achieved by management monitoring subordinates to ensure the critical thinking processes are implemented and practiced in a casino every minute of every day.
For a shift manager to have no concern of business being done on the casino floor would demonstrate to superiors he or she is not doing the job needed by the casino. There would be no career for an individual in the casino without critical thinking being present and practiced daily. The casino would promptly advise and replace any management that did not use critical thinking to come to valid decision making.
Conclusion
When decisions are needed critical thinking is an intricate part of the process. One has demonstrated the process in a minute form, the process of critical thinking is a step by step action valuable in any situation. Critical thinking is the first step in the resolution of problems or questions needing answers.
“Critical thinking affects the way we think, live, and decisions we make. Effective application of critical thinking both personally and professionally will provide the opportunity for better understanding about why others think differently and why or how we think the way we do,” (Elder & Paul, 2001).
References
Scriven, M., & Paul, R. (2004). The Center for Critical Thinking. www.criticalthinking.org/university/univclass/trc.html
Paul, R., & Elder, L. (2001). Critical thinking: Tools for taking charge of your learning and your life. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

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ANTIDOTE sun oct 25 2009 at 12:42 pm ·


	Thank you for your comment Boudicca, Good Point! I totally agree with what you are saying about the solutions to any problem. Framing the problem and determining the problem statement is key to successfully determining the best route to think out and implement for resolution with any problem. Just as gambling is a chance we take, solutions for a problem are equally as risky, would you agree?

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