Creative Problem Solving And Decision Making Course

Creative Problem Solving And Decision Making Course

Course Description

We are continuously confronted with problems that require us to make decisions. Most of the time, we reach decisions without requiring any complex decision-making process. Are we hungry? We decide to eat. Creative Problem Solving And Decision Making Course will help you achieve the right mindset.

Dealing with obstacles and challenges is a regular part of working life, and overcoming them isn’t always easy. To improve your products, services, communications, and interpersonal skills and your organization to excel, you need to encourage creative thinking and find innovative solutions that work.

Some problems are more complex. Deciding how to prioritize our work or understanding why a process failed and deciding what to do about it; requires a rational approach to problem-solving. Often, things get even more complicated. Our decisions could have a significant impact on our lives, careers, or the lives of those around us; thus, we must have the ability to think critically and make sure there is no flaw in our logic.

At other times, the problem is so unusual that it defies rational and critical thinking; these are when creative problem solving and decision-making become invaluable tools. In this course, we will cover all these critical thinking approaches. After understanding the thinking mechanisms, we will provide you with methods and tools that you will practice during the sessions, which can help you at work or in life, and from the most mundane situations to the most difficult or unusual ones.

Course Objectives

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Build and expand decision making, critical thinking, and creative problem-solving skills
• Apply logical and innovative approaches to solving problems and making decisions
• Use traditional and innovative tools for identifying causes and generating solutions
• Employ creativity and lateral thinking as business tools
• Analyze and solve actual problems facing them at work
• Gain confidence in asking the ‘right questions’ and overcoming the stress of making complex decisions
• Demonstrate and build credibility with upper management
• Develop strategic approaches to problem-solving and decision making

Course Modules

Lesson 1 – Problem-solving and decision making

• Definitions and tools: an overview
• The link between problem-solving and decision making
• The principle of organizing our thinking about problems
• Identifying our mind traps
• Brain analysis and ways of learning
• Right brain, left brain thinking
• Assessing your thinking style and how it influences the way you approach problem-solving
• Learning how to shift from right brain to left brain and increasing your ability to balance both sides of the brain
• Right decisions at the right time

Lesson 2 – The rational approach to problem-solving (Kepner-Tregoe)

• Techniques of recognizing problems
• Information analysis
• Difference between causes and symptoms
• The helicopter approach
• Problem analysis
• Decision analysis
• Potential problem analysis

Lesson 3 – Problem analysis supplementary tools

• Root cause analysis
• The importance of the ‘why’ question
• Ishikawa fishbone concept
• Assumptions in the workplace
• Pareto analysis
• The agile critical thinking framework
• The RED model and business situation applications

Lesson 4 – Decision making supplementary tools

• Being decisive and principles of decision making
• The How-How method
• Decision analysis weighted worksheet
• Consensus decision making
• The decision-making process

Lesson 5 – Creativity and Problem solving

• Assessment of creativity and ways to think creatively
• Lateral thinking tips
• Creativity and its use as a business tool
• Barriers to creativity and ways to overcome them
• The hemispheres of the brain
• Brainstorming tips and tools
• Six thinking hats
• Implementing an action plan

Lesson 6 – Applications of techniques

• People’s problems and solutions
• Analysis and solution of real-life problems presented by 
participants
• Action plan to apply problem-solving and decision-making skills 
when returning to the workplace