Problem Solving and Decision Making
How can I improve my team effectiveness when facing complex business problems?
Problem Solving and Decision Making is an intensive managerial programme that has been shown to be an enjoyable and successful way to improve team performance and productivity. The course provides practical skills and a management mindset rather than simply transfer knowledge. Participants are taken through the full problem-solving and decision-making cycle: from breaking down the issue, to prioritising and writing the action plan. They also practice communicating their proposal, an important and often overlooked aspect of the decision-making process. The course focuses mostly on experiential, proactive and practical learning: participants engage in individual and team problem-solving and decision-making, and receive constructive feedback to build on personal strengths and address limitations.
Resources:
- Fanelli’s Pizza, July 2021
- An instructor pack is available on request. Download the Menu here.
- Shipwreck
- The Individual Notes
- The Group Worksheets // .pptx version // Google slides (view only)
- Presentation Skills
- Individual assignment
For more on the Pyramid Principle:
- “The Pyramid Principle” by Ameet Ranadive, June 2013
- Minto, Barbara, 2008, The Pyramid Principle: Logic in Writing and Thinking, FT Prentice Hall
For more on the 7-38-55 rule see:
-
#364 – Chris Voss: FBI Hostage Negotiator, Lex Fridman (at 1:54:17)
For more on problem solving, see:
- Are You Trying to Solve the Wrong Problem? by Peter Bregman, Harvard Business Review, December 2015
Background materials
For more about Toyota listen to:
- The Blame Game, Malcolm Gladwell, August 4th 2016
For an introduction to the Tylenol murders listen to:
- The Tylenol Murders, Criminal, Episode 201, November 18th 2022