We are constantly faced with problems that require us to make decisions that are mostly reached without a complex decision-making process: are we hungry? We decide to eat. But some problems are more complex, such as prioritizing or determining why a process fails and what to do. These issues require a rational approach to resolving them. Sometimes, things get more complicated, or our decisions can significantly affect our lives, jobs, or those around us. Other times the problem is so unusual that it challenges rational and critical thinking; here lies the importance of objectively analyzing to formulate a decision, and here is when creative problem-solving and decision-making become invaluable tools.
This course covers the most important creative problem-solving and decision-making approaches. By understanding the mechanisms of thinking and providing the relevant methods and tools practiced during the sessions, participants will become more confident in solving problems and making decisions at work or in life, from simpler situations to more difficult or complex ones.
Course Methodology
The course uses interactive techniques, such as brief presentations by the consultant and the participants, role plays (rehearsed and impromptu), Video clips with detailed debriefs, and individual and group feedback.
Course Objectives
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
Build and expand decision making, critical thinking, and creative problem solving skills
Apply rational approaches to solving problems and making decisions
Utilize traditional and creative techniques for identifying causes and generating solutions
Practice essential tools for proper decision making
Employ creativity and lateral thinking as business tools
Target Audience
Managers, supervisors, and administrators who will benefit from better problem-solving and decision-making, and business professionals who want to take their critical thinking to the next level by using their experience and intuition to make the right moves and decisions,
Target Competencies
Attention to details
Decision making
Creative thinking
Practical and proactive thinking
Situation analysis
Problem-solving ability and anticipating potential problems
Course Outline
Problem-solving and Decision-making
Definition of problem, problem-solving, and decision-making
The relationship between creative problem-solving and decision-making
The helicopter view
The six-step method in problem-solving
Team problem solving
The link between causes and symptoms
The Rational Approach to Problem-solving (Kepner & Tregoe)
Defining the problem
Writing a problem statement
Techniques for recognizing problems
Six critical questions to clear out
The rational approach
Kepner & Tregoe's approach to problem-solving
Problem Analysis Supplementary Tools
Root cause analysis
Corrective actions
The five-why process
The cause and effect diagram
Pareto analysis
Decision-making Supplementary Tools
Effective decision-making
The How-How method
The decision analysis worksheet
Approaches to team decision-making
Creativity and Problem-solving
Uses of creativity as a business tool
Lateral thinking
Mental blocks to creative thinking and ways to overcome them