CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING AND DECISION MAKING

Duration: 1 – 1.5 Days
Delivery methods:

  • Self-discovery and critique
  • Group exploration and facilitator led discussions
  • Game based learning
  • Practical exercises
  • Best practice theory exploration

Overview:
This highly interactive workshop introduces a variety of creative solution generation and decision making techniques. Participants will develop the skills necessary to analyze a problem, generate creative solutions, and decide which solution most closely matches their needs.
After practicing the new tools and techniques, participants will apply them on an interesting case study. The case study presented at the beginning of class will take participants back to ancient Egypt where as a team they have to solve a problem otherwise the Pharaoh will be very angry.

Course objectives:
By the end of this training course participants will be able to:

  • Apply logical tools to properly analyze problems for root causes.
  • Establish and compare options in a variety of situations.
  • Identify the best choice from various options and address group think.
  • Achieve group consensus about important decisions.
  • Apply a four step process to systematically solve problems and decide on appropriate solutions.
  • Use methods and tools (systematic process and fishbone diagramming) to discover the underlying cause of a problem.
  • Use brainstorming, mind mapping, and several other creative thinking techniques to generate possible solutions to the problem.
  • Use the following decision making techniques: Pro/Con, Force Field Analysis, Decision Matrix, Feasibility/Capability Analysis, and Cost/Benefit Analysis.
  • Create an action plan to implement the appropriate solution.

Target audience:
Business professionals who want to develop practical skills and approaches to problem solving, creative idea generation, and decision making tools where the solutions are not always obvious.

Outline of topics:
Step 1: Define the Problem

  • Systematic problem definition (six basic questions)
  • Systematic problem definition grid
  • Cause and effect/Fishbone/Ishikawa diagrams
  • Why-Why diagrams

Step 2: Find Creative Solutions

  • Eight blocks to creative thinking
  • Brainstorming
  • Mind maps
  • SCAMMPERR
  • Reverse brainstorming
  • De Bono’s six thinking hats

Step 3: Evaluate and Select Solution

  • Pro’s and con’s
  • Steps in force field analysis
  • Cost/benefit analysis
  • Feasibility/capability analysis

Step 4: Implement Solution and Create an Action Plan

  • Planning and scheduling
  • Planning steps
  • The big planning tip