Effective Problem Solving and Decision Making
Date to be determined; BW East, Beachwood
9 a.m. - 4 p.m.; $349; Instructor: Ellen-Burts-Cooper
In today’s environment our teams are getting leaner with the pace of work getting faster. The ability to tackle daily problems quickly and make faster decisions will make your day easier and your team’s productivity increase. Solving tough problems requires the ability to define the true problem, analyze the possible causes, create options, select the most feasible option, and then implement it. This course will help you enhance your efforts to find sustainable solutions and learn new ways to approach problem-solving to reach win-win decisions.
Several tools will be introduced for immediate use in your work environment. The class will use various problem types in simulations and hands-on exercises to practice applying the tools. A reference guide will also be given to participants with problem solving tips.
Learning Objectives:
- Increase your awareness of problem solving steps and problem-solving tools
- Distinguish root cause from symptoms to identify the right solution for the right problem
- Identify your own problem-solving style
- Improve your ability to participate in and communicate about a collaborative problem-solving process
- Recognize the top ten rules of good decision making
Target Audience: Individuals and new leaders who are responsible for managing departments and leading teams
Course Outline:
- Introductions/Objectives/Agenda
- Ice Breaker
- Problem Solving
- Practical application in problem solving
- Define a “problem”
- Describe the ideal problem solver
- Simulation: Fix This Please
- Identify the types of problems encountered
- The Problem Solving Model
- Using fishbone analysis
- Problem-Solving Toolkit
- Facts vs. Information
- Decision Making
- 10 Ingredients for Good Decision Making
- Gradients of Agreement
- The Decision-Making Process
- Decision-Making Traps
- Simulation: What Shall I do?
- Problems as Given/Problems as Understood
- Types of decisions (including bad ones!)
- Implementing a Decision
- Workshop Wrap-up