A two day training workshop

Course Overview:

This highly interactive workshop teaches you a variety of decision making techniques. You will develop the

skills that are necessary to make important decisions involving various people and ensure the results of your

decisions. As well as analyzing a problem, generating alternative solutions, and deciding which solution most

closely matches your needs.

Course Objectives:        

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

• • Apply logical and creative approaches to solving problems and making decisions.
• • Use traditional and creative tools for identifying causes and generating solutions.
• • Analyze and solve actual problems facing them at work.
• • Devise objectives given the background information.
• • Establish and compare options in a variety of situations.
• • Address employee groupthink.
• • Identify the best choice from various options.
• • Achieve group consensus about important decisions.

Who Should Attend

Business professionals who want to develop practical skills and approaches to problem solving and decision making

where the solutions are not always obvious.

Workshop topics include ways to:

• • Increase awareness of problem solving steps and problem solving tools.
• • Distinguish root causes from symptoms to identify the right solution for the right problem.
• • Improve problem solving and decision making skills by identifying individual problem solving styles.
• • Think creatively and work towards creative solutions.
• • Recognize the top ten rules of good decision-making.

Course Outline

Problem Solving and Decision Making

• • Definitions and Tools: An Overview
• • The Link Between Problem Solving and Decision Making

The Rational Approach to Problem Solving Kepner-Tregoe

• • The Helicopter Approach
• • Problem Analysis
• • Decision Analysis
• • Potential Problem Analysis

Problem Analysis Supplementary Tools

• • Ishikawa's Fishbone Concept
• • The Pareto Principle
• • The Matrix

Decision Making Supplementary Tools

• • The How-How Method
• • Decision Analysis Weighted Worksheet

Creativity and Problem Solving

• • The Hemispheres of the Brain
• • Brainstorming
• • Six Thinking Hats

Applications of Techniques

• • Analysis and Solution of Real Cases Presented by Participants

Personal decision making

• • Know how to properly define objectives.
• • Establish and compare options to identify the best choice.
• • Effectively implement decisions.
• • Determine if a decision was successful.
• • Understand strategic decision making.

Team Decision making

• • Understand the importance of group decision making.
• • Determine who is responsible for making decisions in a group.
• • Identify the characteristics of effective decision making groups.
• • Recognize how groups influence decision making.
• • Address groupthink.

Decision making during Crisis

• • Understand why creativity is important to decision making.
• • Promote creativity in group members.
• • Improve brainstorming techniques.
• • Understand the relationship between power and decision making.
• • Address conflict within a group.