Effective Decision Making and Problem Solving

Introduction:

In problem-solving, you identify and evaluate solution paths; in decision making, you make a similar discovery and evaluation of alternatives. In this course, participants will develop their skills in Prob. Effective Decision Making and Problem-Solving training course include skill development exercises in learning to apply problem-solving steps and tools, analyzing information to clearly describe problems, thinking creatively, being a contributing member of a problem-solving team, selecting the best approach for making decisions, creating a plan for implementing, evaluating, and following up on decisions, and to avoid joint decision-making mistakes. Participants of this course learn how to tame creativity and use it to reveal new paths. They consider convergent and divergent thinking and consumer decision-making in the process and learn how to explore and define problems to keep time and effort for the most important issues, mastering the proven techniques of creative problem-solving.

Objectives: At the end of the Effective Decision Making and Problem Solving, you will be able to:

1. Define what a problem is and the different types of problems
2. Recognize the importance of dealing with the cause of a problem
3. Identify barriers to solving problems and how to overcome them
4. Understand the different techniques to define and resolve simple and complex problems
5. Learn how to apply logical and creative approaches to solving problems and making decisions
6. Realize why you shouldn’t blindly rely on intuition when making a decision
7. Know how to work with team-based or group decisions
8. Learn how to overcome paralysis by analysis while making a decision
9. Exercise various tools and techniques for evaluating solutions
10. Implement a solution and know how to track and monitor its application.

Who should attend: Effective Decision Making and Problem-Solving training course is ideal for: 

• Supervisors
• New and experienced Business Executives
• Senior and Middle Managers
• Project managers
• HR Managers
• All professionals involved in problem-solving and decision making
• All individuals who want to become better at making decisions

Course Outline:

Day 1 Introduction to Creativity

• The process of creativity, Creativity vs Innovation
• Is creativity in problem-solving always necessary?
• Principles of creative problem-solving
• Divergent thinking, Convergent thinking
• Frameworks for creative problem-solving

Day 2 Exploring and Defining Problems

• Understanding the cause
• How to be sure if this problem is real
• Root cause analysis
• Kepner-Tregoe process
• Pareto analysis
• Understanding systems

Day 3 Convergent Ideation Techniques

• Pair & Share Technique
• How-How Diagrams
• PPCO Framework, ALU Framework
• Solution Analysis
• Viewing solutions in multiple ways

Day 4 Making a Decision

• Styles of decision-making
• Understanding sensitivities
• Understanding paralysis by analysis
• How to deal with the ambiguity of outcomes
• Applying tools and techniques for evaluating solutions
• The Sunk Cost paradox
• Golden rules of decision-making
• Finalize decisions with the Decision Matrix

Day 5 Implementing the Solution

• Considering implementation in advance
• Planning and delegation
• Problem solved? – Tracking and evaluation
• Develop and review follow-up contingency actions
• Formulate an after-the-action review process
• Applying a risk assessment in decision-making