Course Aims
The course will give you the knowledge to understand the fundamentals of problem solving, develop critical thinking skills, and learn how to utilize problems solving techniques in a team. Deciding how to prioritize our work or understanding why a process failed and deciding what to do about it; these require a rational approach to problem solving. It gives you awareness to analyze and solve actual problems facing them at work , demonstrate and build credibility with upper management and develop strategic approaches to problem solving and decision making.
Key Modules
- The problem-solving method
- Problem definition
- Problems and corporate world
- Brainstorming
- Critical Thinking
- Generating Solutions
- Analyzing Solution
- Selection of best fit solution
- Implementation of a solution
- Planning for next step
- Recording lessons learnt
Course Outline
Problem Solving Basics
- Definition of ‘problem’
- Definition of ‘problem solving’
- Definition of ‘decision making’
- Fundamentals of problem solving
- Discussing problem solving
- Handling problems
- Identifying problems
- Effective problem-solving approaches
Problem - solving teams
- Managing problem-solving teams
- Building a problem-solving team
- Conducting team meetings
- Driving a successful team
- Encouraging team members
- Interacting with team members
Critical thinking and information analysis
- Critical thinking
- Developing reasoning skills
- Developing logic skills
- Quantitative analysis
- Discussing quantitative analysis techniques
- Examining financial analysis techniques
- Discussing forecasting techniques
- Qualitative analysis
- Discussing qualitative analysis techniques
- Thinking creatively in problem solving
- Using analogies in problem solving
- Discussing mind mapping
Problem solving in the corporate world
- Problem solvers
- Identifying problem solvers and their skills
- The corporate problem-solving culture
- Identifying the corporate culture
Problem - solving process
- Identifying problems
- Analyzing the situation
- Gathering information
- Identifying solution criteria
- Committing to a solution
- Generating solutions
- Choosing the best solution
- Implementing a solution
- Confirming problem elimination
- Measuring solution success
- Managing solution project
- Communicating problem-solving changes
Decision making supplementary tools
- Effective decision making for problem
- Why-Why and how-how analysis
- The how-how method
- Choice making
- The decision analysis worksheet
Experiential Learning Activity - ELA
Activities that help participants understand the key elements of effective problem solving.
By analysing the way they tackle problems, participants gain an understanding of the key elements of effective problem solving and their personal blocks, whether they are perceptual, emotional, cultural or intellectual. Involvement in subsequent activities gives them opportunities to practice and test new approaches before applying their learning to ‘live problems’.
Key Learning Outcomes: of ELA
- Building on ideas
- Critiquing
- Focusing on critical issues
- Problem identification
- Questioning self and others
- Success orientation
- Valuing others contributions
Water Tower
- Understanding and working to constraints
- Planning, even when under time pressure
- Working together to agreed plans
- Reviewing progress and re-planning
Odd Colour of Stack
- Identifying and understanding (customer) priorities
- Homing in on the key problem that can prevent success
- Avoiding distractions and secondary issues
- Working together to complete a task within a tight time schedule
- Attention to detail and quality
MTa Learning
MTa was established in 1982 by Martin Thompson, an experimental psychologist and specialises in designing ‘out of the box’ experiential activities that enables the facilitators to build teams, develop leaders, improve communication and deliver world-class training solutions.
The organisation has over 30 years of worldwide experience in designing, supplying and facilitating innovative experiential learning activities, training resources and people development programmes. These learning and development materials are being used by trainers and facilitators in over 100 countries, by 1000s of the world’s most demanding organisations. Their specialised team focuses on providing solutions catering to team building, management and organisational development programmes. All of their 100+ ‘off the shelf activities’ are unique and have been designed, developed and tested at MTa; most are based on their own patented components.
Course Materials
It is very important to analyze the need for Training along with the level of knowledge you require. This session give you a liberty to choose the modules you need, discuss it with the trainer how you want to be delivered, decide the place at your convenience and allocate number of hours to solve your problem. This does not include any development as a consulting but will include solution if you are facing a particular problem.
