Obama and McCain analysis (29.10.08)

A new leadership analysis by two US university professors and a UK-based doctor of psychology, highlights the difference in critical thinking skills between Obama and McCain.

Professor Usha Satish, Professor Siegfried Streufert and Dr Tony Cockerill have looked at ‘how’ the two candidates think rather than ‘what’ they think, in their analysis.  This predicts that Obama will be able to perform to a higher level at times of high levels of VUCAD (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, ambiguity and delayed feedback) than McCain.

Dr Tony Cockerill, founder of the Centre for High Performance Development, outlines the main results of the analysis: “Overall, both candidates, while different in their respective approaches, showed competencies in dealing with complex task settings.  They differed in their level of integrative strategy - with Obama scoring highly in that domain - and in their responses to challenges and crises – with McCain demonstrating rapid reactions to events and Obama generating thoughtful action at an appropriate rate. In relation to our VUCAD environment our analysis shows that Obama fairs better than McCain even in the most extreme conditions, whereas McCain is capable of operating well at levels of low to medium VUCAD.  What the US voters need to decide is whether the current environment for a US president is high VUCAD or low VUCAD.”

To read the full analysis, please click here.