Decision Making and Problem Solving

Develop strong decision-making and problem-solving capabilities to effectively navigate organizational challenges and make choices that create meaningful impact. This two-day intensive course targets managers, supervisors, team leaders, group members, and anyone involved in organizational decision-making and problem-solving processes. Participants will learn comprehensive methodologies for making thorough, impactful decisions and resolving problems in constructive ways using proven strategies and frameworks.

Course Focus and Target Audience:

This program is specifically designed for managers, supervisors, team leaders, and individuals engaged in decision-making and problem-solving responsibilities. The course particularly benefits those seeking to improve their ability to make well-considered, impactful decisions while addressing problems through constructive approaches.

Essential Learning Outcomes:

• Foster inquiry as a productive approach to communication and problem-solving.
• Strengthen the overall quality of organizational and group decision-making processes.
• Apply practical tools to gather necessary data for effective problem solving and decision support.
• Identify and counteract groupthink tendencies.
• Recognize and avoid common decision-making pitfalls and cognitive biases.

Detailed Course Content

Module 1: Environmental and Contextual Factors

• Define decision-making versus problem-solving processes and explore how these approaches interweave; examine organizational climate and stakeholder perception impacts.
• Contrast individual decision-making with group decision-making; assess personal styles and preferences, including cognitive approaches and management decision models; map stakeholder networks and communication channels.
• Identify and prevent groupthink; conduct effective meetings; apply questioning and facilitation methods to surface assumptions and diverse perspectives.
• Integrate ethical considerations into choices; evaluate against core values; apply quick self-assessment tests and major ethical frameworks; utilize the PLUS ethical filter.

Module 2: The Decision-Making Process and Implementation

• Follow a structured eight-step process: define the problem; establish vision and objectives; generate potential options; evaluate option merits; develop a strategy; make the decision; build an action plan; evaluate results and outcomes.
• Employ practical tools for initial steps: create problem statements; apply Five Whys analysis; develop vision statements and SMART(S) objectives; conduct brainstorming and cause-and-effect analysis; create criteria tables and force-field analysis.
• Develop a strategy and assess risk factors, including likelihood, impact, and organizational tolerance; identify hidden decision traps such as status quo bias, anchoring effects, echo chambers, framing biases, and historical patterns.
• Execute the decision with appropriate stakeholder involvement using Vroom-Yetton frameworks; employ tools including multi-voting, consensus building, and weighted merit matrices; assess information-processing styles with the DecideX tool.
• Implement decisions through planning tables and mind maps; communicate progress; conclude with outcome evaluation, lessons learned documentation, and formal project closure reporting.