Low-ranking office worker behind incomplete work (8)
I believe the answer is:
template
'incomplete work' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both related to thinking as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?
'low-ranking office worker behind' is the wordplay.
'low ranking office worker' becomes 'temp' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'behind' becomes 'late' (as in behind schedule).
'temp'+'late'='TEMPLATE'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for template that I've seen before include "Shaped pattern" , "Prototype" , "Model from which copies are made" , "Something used as a pattern" , "Shape serving as model" .)