Critical Thinking In Problem Solving And Decision Making (2D)

(CTPSDM/2D)

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

In our daily working life, we are faced with challenges all the time. Hence, without realizing this, a big part of our job, and time, is centred on solving problems. However, this is a core competency that we often over-looked and turn to blame rather than solving the problem itself. In most cases, problems can be avoided or even prevented. Due to our inadequacy of critical thinking, we tend to miss out certain details and thus widen the problem and may even create other problems. Therefore, critical thinking is absolutely crucial in our planning to reduce undesired outcomes. Combined with creative and lateral thinking, our decisions made can now be more effective in arriving at the outcomes that we desire.

This intensive, hands-on, activity driven program teaches skills that boost better results through increased understanding and effective implementation of the problem solving and decision making processes. It helps sharpen your skills and empowers you to take the best possible actions in any given situations. By providing you with a rigorous training environment, your active participation in our program will enable you to apply and sustain your learning to a point of forming winning habits. You will have the ability to create the greatest positive impact at every given opportunity when facing a problem and making a decision every time.

Critical Thinking In Problem Solving & Decision Making focuses on the following areas:

Communication

Decision making

Problem solving techniques

Solutions generation

Thinking processes

LEARNING FRAMEWORK
Training Outcome
After completing the training, you should be able to: 
  • Create depth in the thinking process
  • Develop higher level of problem solving competency
  • Improve logical and critical thinking mode
  • Inculcate diagnostic and analytical thinking approach
  • Make effective decisions
Our Methodology

Think differently to alter direction.

The experience of learning to read and write for the first time is likely to remain vivid in your memory. The skill is ingrained and it stays.  The primary objective of our training and workshop is to make your new knowledge and abilities as durable as the ones you've already accumulated.  They foster fresh ideas. They enable great feats. Individual behaviour and attitude contribute to your organization's success is what we prioritise.

Combining experiential, instructional, and discovery learning with current coaching technology promotes profound transformations in attitudes and behaviour that enable sustainable change in your business. These adjustments improve results.

Our programmes involve with 12 unique learning methodology as below:

Framework and Implementation
Our unique experiential framework and implementation empowers you to:
  • Build on your decision making skills with flexibility and ease
  • Create a critical thinking workforce
  • Develop your personal unique problem solving style with depth and creativity
  • Employ effective problem solving skills in different types of situations
  • Enhance listening skills and powerful questioning skills
  • Identify a problem, and not just its causes or symptoms
  • Improve overall quality, productivity and cost
  • Manifest required changes within the organization
  • Prevent potential and repeat problems from happening
  • Solve problems systemically and objectively
  • Understand and employ the problem solving model effectively
  • Use practical decision making skills to achieve win-win outcomes
THE LEARNING PROCESS

Our program outline encompasses the following modules:

Day 1:

Module 1: Problem Solving Cycle
  • Problem definition
  • Data collection
  • Analysis study
  • Solution development
  • Implementation and monitoring
Module 2: Defining The Problem
  • Tool #1: Data Check Sheet
  • Analysis fact finding
  • Selecting the right data
  • Data collection and check sheet
  • Summarize and make a conclusion
Module 3: Less For More
  • Tool #2: Pareto Diagram
  • Being effective in prioritizing actions
  • Developing the Pareto Diagram
  • The Pareto Line
  • Getting more done with less 
Module 4: Probable Causes
  • Tool #3: Fishbone Diagram
  • The 6Ms
  • Developing the Fishbone Diagram
  • Hot Seat #1
  • Fishbone Diagram with T/F Circle

Day 2:

Module 5: Root Cause Analysis
  • Tool #4: The Why-Why Analysis
  • The 5W1H / Starbursting
  • The Funnel Model
  • The art of curiosity 
  • Drilling down
Module 6: Monitoring And Selecting
  • Tool #5: Graph & Data Monitoring and Tool #6: Selection Matrix
  • Handling considerations
  • Selecting choices
  • Confirming criteria
  • Making decisions
Module 7: Solutions To Actions
  • Tool #7: 3D Action Planning and Tool #8: Considerations, Pros & Cons
  • Thoroughness
  • Recommendations
  • Linking Fishbone Diagram
  • Hot Seat #2
Module 7: Solutions To Actions
  • Tool #7: 3D Action Planning and Tool #8: Considerations, Pros & Cons
  • Thoroughness
  • Recommendations
  • Linking Fishbone Diagram
  • Hot Seat #2
Module 8: Risk Assessment And Mitigation
  • Tool #9: What If and Tool #10: Deducting Techniques
  • Hot Seat #3
  • Reasoning
  • Reflection
  • Coaching performance

Games & Activities Synopsis

Picture5

01 TRAFFIC JAM

A STRUCTURED APPROACH TO CRITICAL THINKING AND PROBLEM SOLVING

Competencies and Skills

  • Understand the dangers of conventional problem-solving methods
  • Lead a team meeting productively when crisis strikes with resilience and structure
  • Verbalize, visualize and map down the core issues or root problems before exploring options
  • Conduct the process of trial and error far more efficiently with a vision or purpose
  • Identify root problems so the same problems do not reoccur
  • Brainstorm and lead the team to develop higher quality solutions
  • Select the best solution after considering all important criteria

Games Description

In this crisis management and problem-solving game, participants will have to overcome a seemingly impossible task as a team. The team is split into two groups and must exchange places within a tight time frame. As the game progresses, the team may get increasingly frustrated with one another if they lack the proper problem solving and critical thinking capabilities.

In phases, the team learns how to identify the issues when things go wrong instead of assigning blame, select the best option together as a team, and to select the best available solution given the circumstances. Most importantly, each player learns to confront the problem and to lead the team with strength and vision, all whilst being receptive to the opinions and ideas from each member of the team.

Picture4

02 PITCH PARTY

IDENTIFYING THE ROOT CAUSES OF PROBLEMS AND GAINING CLARITY

Competencies and Skills:

  • Analyze the context of a problem and the facts to accurately understand the problems
  • Prioritize problems by need and urgency
  • List down the underlying issues / root causes of a problem before brainstorming solutions (the cure must fit the diagnosis)
  • Foster anticipatory thinking so future or knock-on problems can be identified and catered to well ahead of time
  • Identify gaps in knowledge and set out a list of information to gather and analyze

Game Description

In this exciting game designed to develop each player’s problem-identification skills, the teams are tasked by their Board of Directors to plan and manage an awesome and breath-taking party for the launch of the company’s newest line of products. However, each Director has a drastically different idea of what constitutes a great party, and furthermore, the players must have the fact-finding and critical thinking skills to design a party which can fit all the criteria whilst trying to stay on-budget!

Using powerful Fishbone Diagrams, players must identify gaps in their knowledge and set out a list of information to gather and analyze before getting their creative juices flowing and designing an attractive proposal which is able to fulfil all the requirements set forth by the Board of Directors. Ultimately, each team must be able to justify their decisions and recommendations in a “Shark Tank” style of party-pitching!

Picture8

03 CUP TRANSFER

INNOVATION, RESOURCEFULNESS AND GATHERING HIGHER QUALITY SOLUTIONS

Competencies and Skills

  • Challenge assumptions and carefully consider varying viewpoints instead of jumping to conclusions
  • Empty our bucket to identify multiple possible solutions and carefully list down all consequences or potential roadblocks
  • Achieve “Thinking Out of the Box”
  • Brainstorm to gather better ideas and solutions

Game Description

Each team is assigned five cups in a basin. There is a ping-pong ball in the first cup. The teams are then given an objective which will truly test their ability to innovate and to think out of the box – to transfer the ball from the first cup to the fifth cup without touching the ball.

The teams will then be provided with water, rocks, scissors and other tools, many of which are distractions and will not be relevant. They will then be tasked to innovate as many solutions as possible to transport the ball.

Most teams will immediately attempt to float the ball out of the cups but they’ll realize that they don’t have enough water and their initial solution is not sustainable! Instead, teams will have to think critically, innovate and to focus on sustainability while using all the available resources and tools.

By the debrief and reflection session, players will realize that there are truly infinite ways to solve a problem, and that we are only limited by our mindsets and willingness to collaborate and innovate.

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04 RED AND BLUE (JIGSAW)

SELECTING THE BEST SOLUTION AND COMMUNICATING WITH STAKEHOLDERS

Competencies and Skills

  • Adopt a methodical approach to evaluate how effective each proposed solution is in addressing the problem
  • Consider how the proposed solutions may affect us in the long run
  • Plan ahead, anticipate and address / mitigate potential shortfalls / risks of their suggested solutions
  • Prioritize the final recommendations in order
  • Make an informed and optimal decision based on our goals and vision
  • Effectively communicate the shortlisted solutions to stakeholders so that a consensus may be reached

Game Description

In this game focused on decision making, negotiation and collaborative skills, players will be assigned into 4 different teams and will be assigned two tasks to earn points – completing a jigsaw puzzle and voting for red or blue over 10 rounds. Voting for blue earns 30 points, whereas voting for red grants zero points. Here’s the catch – if all the teams vote blue, EVERYONE loses 30 points. If all teams vote red, then everyone GAINS 50 points. Furthermore, participants will realize that they do not possess all the pieces needed to complete their puzzle!

After identifying the problems and innovating ideas, the teams will have to make tough decisions – to maximize their own points but sacrifice the wellbeing of other teams, or to do the hard work, and to create a win-win solution together with the other teams.

Teams will start intense negotiations but they’ll realize that the key is to involve all the teams in a large-scale negotiation exercise. They quickly learn to expand beyond their comfort zones, be decisive during a crisis, and ultimately discover that win-win solutions are the most satisfying solutions!

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