Problem Solving: Foundations

Overview/Description
 Solving problems and making decisions are two of the most important aspects of any job. This course is designed to provide you with the foundations required for successful problem solving. Two keys to successful problem solving are your ability to assess your own level of decisiveness, and building your problem-solving skills. This course gives you the tools you need to tackle work problems, providing both a conceptual and practical foundation for successful problem solving.

Target Audience
 Anyone involved in problem solving in business, though the course will be especially beneficial to recently appointed supervisors and managers.

Expected Duration
1.5 hours

Lesson Objectives:

Definitions and Distinctions

  • identify the benefits of understanding the underpinning concepts of problem solving and decision making and assessing their own decisiveness quotient.
  • identify the differences between decision making and decisiveness.
  • given a list of behaviors, be able to categorize them according to levels of decisiveness.
  • given all the permutations of decisiveness and decision making skills, classify them according to the risk involved.
  • identify from a number of scenarios those that call for problem solving and those that require decision making.

    • Tools for Problem Solving and Decision Making

  • appreciate the value of combining logical thinking with creativity to achieve excellent problem solutions and effective decisions.
  • understand when and how to use logical thinking in the decision making and problem solving processes.
  • recognize when and understand how to use creative thinking in problem solving and decision making processes.
  • use logical deduction and creative thinking at the right stages of the process to solve problems and make better decisions.

    • Basis of Problem Solving

  • appreciate the benefits of using a practical and effective tool to improve their problem solving track record.
  • in any problem situation, be able to determine its urgency and relative importance.
  • be prepared to recognize the signs and symptoms that indicate the presence and nature of a problem.
  • be able to identify the cause or causes of a problem through recognizing the agent of change.
  • be able to generate solutions to address the cause(s) of problems which will remove, amend, or nullify the negative effect of the problem.

    • Course Number: PD0211