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Problem Solving

Module Name: Creative Problem Solving & Decision Making

Module Duration: Three days or according to needs

“The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them” – Albert Einstein

Module Purpose:

‘Problem solving’ is the art of finding ways to get from where you want to be. The ‘problem’, therefore, is the gap between the present situation and a more desirable one. Problem solving includes the exploiting of opportunities and the creation of opportunities, as well as the more everyday sense of dealing with an unsatisfactory situation.

This programme will equip delegates with the latest problem solving tools and techniques so that they can overcome the operational problems they face on a day to day basis.

This course is designed to help you tighten up in many areas of your own problem solving. The action steps in this course are simple and practical – yet the cumulative effect can be radical.

This course offers a unique interactive and hands-on learning experience that provides easy comprehension of problem solving and decision making issues for all staff and executives. It also promotes team spirit and reinvigorates participants’ individual contribution to your company.

Module Benefits:

A highly qualified facilitator ensures that all learning content is communicated by using proven methods. The training program will meet the learning needs because of the interaction and group participation that will be required from each participant. As we work in a relaxed and non-threatening manner, each participant can adjust and warm to the learning atmosphere in their own way. We will encourage natural learning methods where their work situations will be brought into the training wherever possible with role-plays, references to their own experiences, and of course the trainers experience.

Who should attend?

Employees of any discipline, whose organizational role requires them to problem solve on their own or with team members. Increasingly more is expected of us at work and solving problems is integral to our success. Decision Analysis is a technique to assist you, or a group, to determine the choice of an action to take, taking account of e.g. the objectives, what alternatives there are and what risks are involved

Through this course, you will develop a framework and understanding of tools and methods available, that are needed to achieve improved problem solving and decision making. You can apply these methods to your daily routines and schedules.

General Learning Objectives:

By the end of the module, you will:

  • Be able to describe and analyze problems
  • Distinguish between rational and intuitive approaches to problem solving and decision making
  • Identify the cause or causes of problems
  • Generate a range of possible solutions and select
  • Implement your chosen solutions and evaluate effectiveness
  • Adopt a systematic and thoughtful approach to making difficult decisions
  • Understand what makes good and bad decisions
  • Develop and evaluate decision options
  • Implement decisions and evaluate outcomes

“It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer” – Albert Einstein

Content (according to needs):

  • Six stages of problem solving – The Process
  • Establishing Your Approach To Problems
  • Applying Perception and Judgement To The Problem Solving Process
  • Techniques in problem solving process
  • Defining problems and causes
  • Brainstorming
  • Pareto Analysis
  • Cause And Effect Analysis
  • Force Field Analysis
  • Finding a solution
  • Solution Effect Analysis
  • Cost Benefit Analysis
  • Pre-empting and diagnosing problems
  • Ideas’ generation
  • Decision Analysis
  • Alternative solutions and making a decision
  • Considering the Consequences of Decision Alternatives
  • Being More Decisive
  • Overcoming Procrastination
  • Increasing Your Willingness to Take Calculated Risks
  • Implementing a solution
  • The use of ‘Creativity & Innovation’
  • Issues, objectives and constraints in making decisions
  • Finding the right option
  • Choosing Solutions That Work
  • Reconsidering Decisions on the Basis of New Information

Successful leaders have the courage to take action while others hesitate