Article Critical Thinking and Community of Inquiry within Professional Organizations in the Developing World Peter Paul E. Elicor 1 Abstract In this article, I intend to underscore the importance of critical thinking in rendering invaluable positive contributions and impact within professional organizations in the developing world. I argue that critical thinking treated as a normative principle and balanced with a pragmatic orientation provides a rational framework for resolving conflicts that oftentimes ensue from the incoherence between Western-based organizational theories and the actual circumstances of a developing country. In order to optimize the benefits of critical thinking, I also argue that it should not be expected only among leaders and managers, but also and more importantly, among organizational members and associates. It is for this reason that I introduce Matthew Lipman’s Community of Inquiry as a model for cultivating critical thinking within professional environments. Keywords Critical thinking, community of inquiry, Matthew Lipman, organizational values, organizational identity Introduction Gentry and Eckert (2016) observe that leaders in the twenty-first century face a multitude of challenges, encompassing both internal and external boundaries to remain highly competitive and effective. They must work ‘across cultural boundaries and alongside others who, at times, are very different from them and have different ways of getting work completed’ (Gentry et al., 2016, p. 3). Due to the rapid changes brought about by globalization and economic liberalization across developing countries, it is imperative to see the needed reforms in the mentality and professional arsenal of leaders, administrators and manag- ers. Among the most important factors that contribute to the growth of an organization to become a robust and successful global entity is a set of effective managerial values and skills. Developing manage- rial values, which include prioritization, strategic thinking and wise decision making, is greatly needed to wade through the obstacles within a complex globalized environment. It must be emphasized, Journal of Human Values 23(1) 13–20 © 2017 Management Centre for Human Values SAGE Publications sagepub.in/home.nav DOI: 10.1177/0971685816673479 http://jhv.sagepub.com 1 Department of Philosophy, Ateneo de Davao University, Davao City, Philippines. Corresponding author: Peter Paul E. Elicor, 1Department of Philosophy, Ateneo de Davao University, Davao City, Philippines. E-mail: ppeelicor@addu.edu.ph