Creative Problem Solving and Decision Making

Course Objectives  

Upon completing this creative problem solving and decision making course, you will be able to:

1. Learn and apply appropriate problem solving and decision making processes and methods
2. Identify common challenges / biases to effective problem solving and decision making
3. Assess conceptual blocks and significant situational challenges which lead to bad decisions
4. Apply these learnings to enhance leadership development and organizational performance
5. Learn different types of thinking – Critical thinking / Divergent thinking / Convergent thinking and use it for effective problem solving

Course Outline

 Why is Creative Problem Solving needed?

• Changing Business Contexts – The VUCA world
•  Creative Problem Solving + Faster Decisions = Better Profits
• Examples of Ideas that disrupted the world
• Is Creative problem solving a Skill?
• Role of a Manager / Leader in Problem Solving

What is a Problem ?  

• Defining “The Problem”
• Are all “problems” really a “problem”?
• Is the problem a cause or symptom ?
• Defining “Decision Making”
• Are all “Decisions” really a “decision?”
• Do we “ need “to solve problem?
• Is your decision congruent to the personal / organisational values / ethics?

 Block Busting Problems (James Adams)  

• The Perceptual Block
• The Emotional Block
• Cultural & Environmental Blocks
• Intellectual and Expressive Blocks
• Stereotyping and Unconscious Biases
• Blockbusting solutions

 Creative Problem solving and Decision Making – The Process  

• Kepner Tregoe Rational Process
• Situation Appraisal
• Problem Analysis
• Decision Analysis
• Potential Problem / Opportunity Analysis

Critical Thinking  

• Thinking Fast and slow – Eliminating Unconscious Bias (Daniel Kanhemann’s Book review)
• The 8 Elements of The Critical Thinking Process (Reflection, Analysis, Acquisition of information, Creativity, Structuring arguments, Decision making, Commitment, Debate.
• 6 Stages of Development in Critical thinking (Linda Paul & Richard Elder Model)
• The Unreflective Thinker
• The Challenged Thinker
• The Beginning Thinker
• The Practicing Thinker
• The Advanced Thinker
• The Accomplished Thinker

 Convergent & Divergent Thinking  

• Characteristics of  Convergent and Divergent thinking
• Steps in Convergent Thinking
• Steps in Divergent thinking
• Examples and practice sessions in Convergent and Divergent Thinking
• Using Convergent and Divergent thinking in conjunction

 Techniques for Problem Solving  

• The Five Why Technique
• Fish Bone Diagram Method
• Brainstorming
• Quality Circles
• The Root Cause Analysis
• Pareto Technique
• Six Thinking Hats

 Implementing the Decisions  

• Action Plan & Preparing the details
• Ethical & Social Concerns
• Ownership of decisions
• Personal Decision Making
• Organisational Decision Making
• Democratic Decision Making
• Challenges in Decision Making