COURSE OVERVIEW:
Life is filled with complexities, and one of them is to know the difference between problem solving and decision making. People tend to use ‘problem solving’ and ‘decision making’ interchangeably. Although they are somewhat related, these two phrases are not synonymous and are completely different.
There are three forms of applied thinking that we all need: decision making, problem solving and creative thinking. These overlap considerably but they can be distinguished. Decision making is about deciding what action to take; it usually involves choice between options. The object of problem solving is usually a solution, answer or conclusion. The outcome of creative thinking, by contrast, is new ideas.
Any leader who aspires to excellence obviously has a vested interest in seeing that the best decisions are taken, that problems are solved in the optimum way and that the creative ideas and innovations so necessary for tomorrow’s business flow freely. Of course, everyone in the team or organisation should be engaged in meeting these essential requirements. But you are the one who is called to provide the intellectual leadership that is needed.
One step towards that end that you should definitely take is to become master of the processes of practical thinking, the processes that lie behind all effective decision making, problem solving and creative thinking. You cannot guarantee outcomes – for luck or chance plays a part in all human affairs – but you can at least make sure that you use the well tried-and tested processes of thinking to some purpose. You own that responsibility.
The aim of this course is to equip you with the necessary knowledge of those techniques and to help you to acquire skill in using them.
The first part explores how your mind works and examines the functions of the mind. Then introduces the Depth Mind principle.
The second part discusses the decision-making skills, the manager as decision-maker and the key elements of effective thinking and decision-making. In addition, it provides other useful approaches to decision making. The concept of value in decision-making and how to weigh up the options is also explained.
Finally, we provide key problem-solving strategies and explain how problems differ from decisions. A unified model for decision making and problem solving is introduced and how to approach systems problems is explained.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
By the end of this course, you will be able to understand:
- The decision-making skills
- The six elements of effective decision
- The three main functions of the mind
- How an effective decision-maker is always an effective thinker?
- The crucial elements in decision-making
- The Depth Mind principle
- The attributes of a truly effective thinker
- The two maxims that are useful in decision-making
- The decision-making model
- The key elements of effective thinking and decision-making
- The hallmarks of the analytical mind
- How to improve your analytical ability?
- How business thinking is a good example of the Gestalt approach?
- The indicators of a healthy level of imagination
- What are the issues that conceptual thinking in business addresses?
- Originality and innovation in decision making
- The concept of value in decision-making
- Decision-making and weighing up the options
- What to consider when selecting and working through a range of options?
- The art of effective decision making
- The classic approach to decision making
- How to define the objective?
- How to collect relevant information?
- How to generate feasible options?
- How to make the decision?
- How to assess risks?
- How to assess the consequences of your decision?
- How to implement and evaluate your decision?
- The key problem-solving strategies
- How problems differ from decisions?
- The unified model for decision making and problem solving
- The bridge model
- How to ask the right questions?
- How to understand the problem?
- How to solve the problem?
- How to evaluate the decision and implement it?
- How to approach systems problems?
COURSE DURATION:
The typical duration of this course is approximately 2-3 hours to complete. Your enrolment is Valid for 12 Months. Start anytime and study at your own pace.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
You must have access to a computer or any mobile device with Adobe Acrobat Reader (free PDF Viewer) installed, to complete this course.
COURSE DELIVERY:
Purchase and download course content.
ASSESSMENT:
A simple 10-question true or false quiz with Unlimited Submission Attempts.
CERTIFICATION:
Upon course completion, you will receive a customised digital “Certificate of Completion”.