Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
compartmental thinking
English answer:
not thinking across the board
Added to glossary by
Nasima Sarwar
Dec 3, 2004 08:34
19 yrs ago
4 viewers *
English term
Malaysia
Business, IT, HR and Medical
Native in: Malay 
Works in: English to Malay, Malay to English, Malay
compartmental thinking
English
Other
Management
what is compartmental thinking? - as in the following context:
For managers this means overcoming compartmental thinking, assuming resposibility for XYZ as a whole, and acting as role models....
For managers this means overcoming compartmental thinking, assuming resposibility for XYZ as a whole, and acting as role models....
Responses
| 5 +9 | not thinking across the board |
Nesrin
|
| 4 +3 | blinkered thinking i.e. as though the manager cannot see the bigger picture |
CMJ_Trans (X)
|
| 5 +1 | thinking "inside the box" |
airmailrpl
|
| 4 +1 | departmental thinking |
David Moore (X)
|
| 4 | self-centered thinking |
Alaa Zeineldine
|
Responses
+9
1 hr
Selected
not thinking across the board
I've checked a few sites using this term, and I'm pretty sure that's what it means: compartmental thinking is the inability to think across the board, the tendency to look at each matter in isolation of other matters, while in reality they are all linked together. In your text, managers are asked to assume responsibility for XYZ as a whole, not looking at each problem/ department (etc.) in isolation.
See here for example:
"tend to focus on the singular aspects of the realm of creation, isolating them from other parts, and the result will be compartmental thinking and struggle for ..."
catalystresources.org/issues/182krisiansen.html
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr 22 mins (2004-12-03 09:56:53 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
i.e. every matter, problem, whatever is placed in a closed compartment.
See here for example:
"tend to focus on the singular aspects of the realm of creation, isolating them from other parts, and the result will be compartmental thinking and struggle for ..."
catalystresources.org/issues/182krisiansen.html
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr 22 mins (2004-12-03 09:56:53 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
i.e. every matter, problem, whatever is placed in a closed compartment.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "thanks!"
+1
5 mins
departmental thinking
A misuse; I'm certain this should be "departmental" thinking, which is not thinking beyond the interests of one's own immediate surroundings - hence not considering how the department's interests affect other departments, or the company as a whole.
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Alaa Zeineldine
: David, I think compartmental here refers to how one's mind organizes the focus rather than the object itself, which would be the department in this case. So the mind has the us and them compatments, rather than the "we".
7 mins
|
| agree |
seaMount
: I think compartmental is used correctly, but your explanation fits the message and the context (see: http://www.lettersfrombabylon.com/2004/11/natural_capital.ht...
2 hrs
|
| neutral |
Deborah Workman
: "Compartmental thinking" is definitely a term. It may be that a manager's thinking is compartmentalized to his/her department only, but the compartmentalization may be with respect to authority, race, opportunity, anything at all.
4 hrs
|
| agree |
Ernesto de Lara
5 hrs
|
| disagree |
Johanne Bouthillier
: the one might lead to the other, but one should stick to the text
6 hrs
|
+1
14 mins
airmailrpl
Brazil
Brazil
Native in English
&
English
Specializes in field
Brazil
Technical - Fast - good price - accurate
Native in: English (Variant: US) 
, Portuguese (Variant: Brazilian)
Works in: English to Portuguese, Portuguese to English, English, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
4
thinking "inside the box"
Exactly what is 'Thinking Outside the Box'?
... Exactly what is 'Thinking Outside the Box'? ... Outside the Box Thinking outside the box requires different attributes that include: ...
www.canadaone.com/ezine/ april02/out_of_the_box_thinking.html
Thinking Outside The Box
Thinking Outside the Box means thinking beyond the parameters of human consciousness and ... We exist inside the box - the physical plane - but we soon evolve our ...
www.crystalinks.com/outofbox.html -
... Exactly what is 'Thinking Outside the Box'? ... Outside the Box Thinking outside the box requires different attributes that include: ...
www.canadaone.com/ezine/ april02/out_of_the_box_thinking.html
Thinking Outside The Box
Thinking Outside the Box means thinking beyond the parameters of human consciousness and ... We exist inside the box - the physical plane - but we soon evolve our ...
www.crystalinks.com/outofbox.html -
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Swantje Holtken
1 hr
|
|
thank you
|
|
| agree |
Asghar Bhatti
2 hrs
|
|
thank you
|
|
| agree |
Deborah Workman
4 hrs
|
|
thank you
|
|
| neutral |
RHELLER
: can't see any connection whatsoever
6 hrs
|
|
sorry for you
|
|
| disagree |
Johanne Bouthillier
: same as Rita // your sorrow is pointless
6 hrs
|
|
and sorry for you..no suggestion from you - just disagrees
|
|
| disagree |
Charlie Bavington
: in/outside the box is more = 'within/beyond conventional notions". Compartmental is more = in isolation. There's a difference. While it's true that compartmental thinking is likely to be 'inside the box', they are not synonymous.
14 hrs
|
|
-
|
+3
1 hr
blinkered thinking i.e. as though the manager cannot see the bigger picture
For managers this means NOT just thinking in relation to their own department and activities but taking account of the activities of all the other parts of the company, seeing the bigger picture, as it were and how what they do fits into a bigger whole
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Veronica Prpic Uhing
: Yes indeed
4 hrs
|
| agree |
conejo
4 hrs
|
| agree |
Judith Kerman
19 hrs
|
9 mins
Alaa Zeineldine
Egypt
Egypt
Native in English
&
English
Egypt
The best in IT ... and in Automotive
Native in: Arabic , English
Works in: English to Arabic, Arabic to English, English, and 1 more.
self-centered thinking
When a manager worries only about what he/she is responsible for. Makes sure his department's responsibilities are met and its interests are protected without looking at the bigger picture. It is like being isolationist at the corporate level.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 42 mins (2004-12-03 09:17:06 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Follow-up to my comment below, David may have been describing \"compartmental thinking\" as uncommon rather than self-centered thinking. I guess I was a bit self-centered in the way I understood his remark! Anyway, I have heard the expression \"compartmental thinking\" used on occasion, I don\'t believe that each time I heard it, it meant exactly the same thing (does anything?) In this case however, I think the context leads to the meaning I suggested above.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 5 hrs 57 mins (2004-12-03 14:31:41 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Given the contributions so far, I would favor Nesrin\'s answer over this one. She addressed the meaning of compartmentalizing more correctly. I will not delete my answer just to preserve the discussion.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 42 mins (2004-12-03 09:17:06 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Follow-up to my comment below, David may have been describing \"compartmental thinking\" as uncommon rather than self-centered thinking. I guess I was a bit self-centered in the way I understood his remark! Anyway, I have heard the expression \"compartmental thinking\" used on occasion, I don\'t believe that each time I heard it, it meant exactly the same thing (does anything?) In this case however, I think the context leads to the meaning I suggested above.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 5 hrs 57 mins (2004-12-03 14:31:41 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Given the contributions so far, I would favor Nesrin\'s answer over this one. She addressed the meaning of compartmentalizing more correctly. I will not delete my answer just to preserve the discussion.
Peer comment(s):
| disagree |
David Moore (X)
: Sorry, Alaa, but this is far narrower even than "compartmental thinking", whatever THAT may be. It's NOT an expression in common use....hence, it's a mistaken usage. (Added) In any case, to me as an ENS, this goes far further than the writer's intention.
9 mins
|
|
Thanks David, mistaken usage perhaps, but in what way is "self-centered thinking" uncommon?
|
|
| agree |
Henrique Serra
: that makes a lot of sense to me
25 mins
|
Something went wrong...