Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Master the five types of critical thinking needed in business environments Course information Duration: 3 days PDUs: 22.5 Course Fee: £1695 excl. VAT €1795 excl. VAT Related links     Ask a question about this course     Download description Select a Public Classroom Course Aligning Project Management with Organisational Strategy Business Process Analysis, Innovation and Design Coaching and Mentoring for Improved Performance Contract Management Principles and Practices Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Establishing the Project Management Office Facilitation Techniques for Requirements Development Financial Management for Project and Contract Managers Foundations of Business Analysis How to Gather and Document User Requirements Introduction to Business Analysis Leading Complex Projects Leading Project Managers Logical Data Modelling Managing Global Projects Managing Information Technology Projects Managing Projects Negotiation Skills PgMP® Exam Preparation PMP® Exam Preparation PMP® Power Exam Preparation Process Modelling Management Programme Management Project Leadership, Management and Communications Quality for Project Managers Rapid Assessment and Recovery of Troubled Projects Requirements Management: A Key to Project Success Risk Management Scheduling and Cost Control Simulation: Project Management Applications Systems Integration Project Management Taking Charge of Organisational Change Testing Techniques for Tracing and Validating Requirements Use Case Modelling Writing Statements of Work: The Heart of Any Contract     Register for a course by clicking a date below Central London 17-19 Aug 09

You will learn how to:

• Use different thinking approaches at different times to yield better results
• Generate innovative responses to business problems and opportunities
• Assess you own thinking style preferences
• Think in the present to prepare for the future
• Determine the root cause of business problems and opportunities
• Apply different types of thinking for improved analysis and problem solving
• Assess possible responses accurately to select an optimal response
• Design and execute appropriate action plans

Course Synopsis

This course presents a structured approach for tackling problems, spotting opportunities and making decisions that will help you get great results. It will aid you in all aspects of decision making and problem solving in the workplace, whether you are implementing innovation, managing crises or planning for the future. The material addresses the five types of critical thinking needed in business environments: strategic thinking, tactical thinking, analytical thinking, innovative thinking and implicative thinking. It also teaches a proven five-step process for responding to business problems and opportunities.

Through exercises you will practice using these different approaches to achieve the highest results. You will also have the opportunity to apply these concepts to a specific problem or opportunity from within your own business environment. Share newly learned approaches with classmates and give and receive feedback.

Course Topics

1. ESI’s Critical Thinking Model
   1. Analytical thinking
   2. Strategic thinking
   3. Tactical thinking
   4. Innovative thinking
   5. Implicative thinking
2. Problem/Opportunity Identification and Analysis
   1. ESI’s Problem/Opportunity Response Process
   2. Identification and analysis
   3. Environmental scan
   4. Response exploration
   5. Response selection
   6. Response implementation
   7. Active vs. passive problem/opportunity identification
   8. “As is” vs. “To be”
   9. Tools and techniques for problem/opportunity identification
   10. Process flowcharting
   11. Root cause analysis
3. Environmental Scan
   1. What is an environmental scan?
   2. Internal scan
   3. External scan
   4. Stakeholder scan
   5. Business architecture
   6. Your business processes/business rules
4. Response Exploration
   1. Tools and techniques for exploring new and unique responses
   2. Other innovative thinking approaches
5. Response Selection
   1. Filtering
   2. Clustering
   3. Voting
   4. Capability and value analysis
   5. Response prioritisation matrix
   6. Decision trees
   7. Implications analysis
6. Response Implementation
   1. Communicating the optimal response
   2. Gaining acceptance by stakeholders
   3. Managing expectations
   4. Saying “no” to high profile stakeholders
   5. Building an action plan
   6. Ensuring ownership and commitment

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