COURSE OVERVIEW:
Welcome to the Decision Making & Problem Solving Techniques course. This program will equip you with the structured thinking skills, analytical tools, and strategic frameworks required to make sound decisions and solve complex problems effectively. You will explore how strong decision-making relies on disciplined thinking, creativity, structured analysis, and the ability to weigh options and evaluate risks. This course also examines mental models, questioning techniques, and problem-solving methods that support clarity, confidence, and long-term organisational success.
This course begins by examining the core decision-making skills and the six elements of an effective decision. You will explore the three main functions of the mind and how an effective decision-maker is always an effective thinker. This section also highlights the crucial elements in decision-making, including clarity of purpose, logical structure, awareness of bias, and disciplined analysis. You will explore the Depth Mind principle, the attributes of a truly effective thinker, and the two maxims that guide sound decision-making in uncertain or complex environments.
The next learning area introduces the decision-making model and the key elements of effective thinking and decision-making. You will examine the hallmarks of the analytical mind, including objectivity, evidence-based judgement, and the ability to break down complexity. This section also explores how to improve your analytical ability and how business thinking demonstrates the Gestalt approach by viewing situations holistically rather than in isolated parts.
A further section focuses on conceptual thinking and creativity. You will explore the indicators of a healthy level of imagination and the issues that conceptual thinking addresses in business contexts, such as opportunity identification, strategy development, and scenario planning. This section also examines originality and innovation in decision-making, the concept of value, and how value guides the evaluation of options. You will explore decision-making through weighing options, considering trade-offs, and understanding the factors that influence the selection of solutions.
The program then introduces the classic approach to decision-making. You will explore 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, and how to implement and evaluate the decision once it is made. This provides a structured, repeatable framework applicable to both routine and complex decisions.
The next learning area focuses on problem-solving, clarifying how problems differ from decisions and introducing the key problem-solving strategies used in professional environments. You will explore the unified model for decision making and problem solving, which integrates analytical thinking, option development, and evaluation. This section also introduces the bridge model, which helps decision-makers transition from problem diagnosis to solution implementation.
A further section examines questioning as a tool for clarity. You will explore how to ask the right questions, how to understand the problem accurately, how to solve the problem methodically, and how to evaluate the decision and implement it in a way that supports long-term success. You will also explore how to approach systems problems by examining interdependencies, ripple effects, and organisational dynamics.
By the end of this course you will be able to think more analytically and creatively, make well-reasoned decisions, evaluate alternatives effectively, solve complex problems using structured frameworks, assess risks and consequences, and apply decision-making techniques that strengthen your professional judgement and leadership capability.
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.
ASSESSMENT:
A simple 10-question true or false quiz with Unlimited Submission Attempts.
CERTIFICATION:
Upon course completion, you will receive a customised digital โCertificate of Completionโ.