Our Processes

Origins: Over millions of years, through natural selection, neurological structures that promoted survival were preserved and passed on by the human race. Patterns of thinking, response, and behavior developed around accumulating answers to four basic questions—What's going on? Why did this happen? Which course of action should we take? and What lies ahead? Civilization developed as humans learned how to deal with complexity, discovered why things are as they are, made good choices, and anticipated the future. The elements that made these patterns of thinking possible became part of human nature.

For 50 years, Kepner-Tregoe has been dedicated to helping people consciously learn and use these four basic thinking patterns. Kepner-Tregoe has developed four rational processes that mirror those basic patterns. Rational processes are systematic procedures for applying critical thinking to information, data, and experience. They help make the best possible use of the basic patterns of thinking.

Kepner-Tregoe processes are universally applicable, regardless of cultural setting or content. Whether people are Japanese, Canadian, or Brazilian, all are equipped — as a result of common human experiences — with identical, unchangeable patterns of thinking. Only the content changes.

In an organizational setting, rational processes can make full use of the thinking ability within the organization, on a continuing basis. Rational processes provide organized ways of applying critical thinking skills to an issue. They constitute an explicit, logical system that can have a far-reaching impact.

The objective is to move an organization closer to its full potential to meet critical business objectives. This is achieved by the continuing, conscious use of common approaches, expressed in a simple language, and directed toward resolution of an organization's important concerns.