Problem Solving and Decision Making

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Detailed Overview/Outline

Learn how to:

• Ask incisive questions
• Make sound decisions
• Solve critical problems
• Manage complex issues
• Work more effectively in teams
• Apply proven principles to your job
• Prepare for future opportunities and potential problems

Benefits
Learn step-by-step processes that help you organize information, utilize experience, and improve judgement to solve complex problems and make prudent decisions

Benefit from the updated version of Kepner-Tregoe's world-renowned Problem Solving & Decision Making workshop. Through the use of video case studies and accelerated learning concepts, you will learn more effective questioning techniques to improve your ability to make decisions, cut through complex situations, solve tough problems, and plan ahead.

• Find he true cause of a problem before investing in expensive corrections
• Develop preventive actions to protect your business plans
• Deal rationally and constructively with emergency situations
• Find out why a new piece of equipment or system is not meeting expectations
• Use a common language to improve communication
• Justify your recommendations to higher levels of management through documentation
• Learn problem prevention in all phases of operations/planning
• Learn how to question incisively to access relevant information
• Protect the implementation of your action plan
• Improve meeting results by clarifying issues up-front, and transforming them into actionable items
• Learn the value of a problem-solving process you can use under extreme time pressure
• Handle people problems objectively
• Enhance your performance by planning for and taking advantage of opportunities
• Break down large concerns into manageable pieces and prioritize them
• Get action from other people over whom you have no control
• Find the cause of a problem where performance (of a piece of machinery, a sales district, a marketing campaign .. ) has never met expectations
• Solve real problems -- participants work on actual job-related problems

Who Should Attend
This workshop is recommended for managers at all levels, from supervisors and middle managers to top executives. Subordinates and support staff who participate substantially in problem solving and decision making within their work units are also encouraged to attend.

Breakdown
Day One -- Focuses on Situation Appraisal and Decision Analysis The workshop opens with a quick overview of workshop objectives, participant introductions, and workshop administration. A video-based, group exercise encourages participants to identify their current questioning skills and methods for handling complex situations. After reviewing how they currently gather, sort, and organize information, a video demonstrates the basics of Situation Appraisal. A second video then Illustrates the benefits of Situation Appraisal: a complicated and emotional situation is quickly and rationally separated into actionable concerns.

Next, the basics of Decision Analysis are presented. Participants practice using the step-by-step methodology during a two-part video simulation. Participants then apply decision Analysis to work-related concerns, receiving feedback and additional insights from the instructor. A video segment introduces the benefits of effectively presenting and assessing recommendations with the Decision Analysis format. The day concludes with suggestions for individual evening work, including readings and job-related application.

Day Two -- Focuses on Potential Problem (Opportunity) Analysis and Problem Analysis As an introduction, participants quickly review and discuss learning points from the first day. The review of Decision Analysis provides a lead-in to a presentation of the Potential Problem (Opportunity) Analysis process. Potential Problem Analysis offers participants a method for protecting their decisions and actions, while Potential Opportunity Analysis uses similar methods for capitalizing on future situations. Participants discuss the pitfalls and benefits of implementing a recommendation used in the Decision Analysis video to practice Potential Problem and Opportunity Analysis. Additional time is spent applying Potential Problems and Opportunity Analysis to actual job-related concerns. Coaching and feedback are provided by the instructor. Following the application time, a video engages participants with a demonstration of the use of Potential Problem Analysis under time pressure. Additional ideas to help plan actions and use Potential Problem and Opportunity Analysis are presented.

Another video-based case introduces Problem Analysis and helps participants assess their current approach to solving problems. The presentations is followed by a two-part, video-based, small group case that provides practice for the use of the process.

The evening assignments include reading to reinforce leaning and continued work on job-related application. Two and one-half hours are available in the evening for intensive, instructor-coached application on job related concerns.

Day Three -- Focuses on Problem Analysis, Questioning and Listening Skills, Situation Appraisal, and Transferring Skills to the Job The final day begins with a review and discussion of the previous two days. Effective questioning techniques are demonstrated in a video as a critical part of effective problem solving. Participants learn to use distinctions and changes to develop possible causes for a problem. A case study is used for additional practice of the problem-solving techniques, and participants develop skills for handling the answers to key questions.

Situation Appraisal is reviewed and refinements are presented. An instructor-led exercise offers participants an opportunity to practice using Situation Appraisal to separate and clarify vague concerns. Situation Appraisal is then applied to individual job-related concerns and participants plan for the ongoing use of each process. The workshop concludes whit a review of objectives and completion of individual evaluations of the program.

Special Features
Over 60 percent of the workshop is spent on case studies and individual job applications. Individual attention from the instructor during and after the workshop ensures mastery of all key problem-solving and decision-making skills. There is an opportunity to network across industries with other professionals attending the seminar on problem-solving and decision-making issues. Time is set aside for individual questions and concerns.

Video case studies simulate real-life situations and allow participants to practice gathering, sorting, and analyzing information as they do on the job. Experience new, more effective techniques for questioning and information gathering. Case studies developed from companies across industries allow participants to apply problem-solving and decision-making techniques outside their own areas of expertise. Accelerated learning techniques better allow participants to learn the skills according to their preferred styles. Group activities allow participants to capitalize on the collective knowledge and experience of the group, and funnel this information into effective action.

Sponsor Background:
Kepner-Tregoe is an international leader in the quest to harness the thinking skills of people in organizations. The company remains at the forefront of organizational design, research, and practice -- as it has since its founding -- through extensive research, and practice -- as it has since its founding -- through extensive research in strategic and operational excellence.

Founded over 40 years ago by Dr. Charles H. Kepner and Dr. Benjamin B. Tregoe, Kepner-Tregoe now conducts business in almost every major country around the globe.

Thousands of organizations worldwide have benefited from Kepner-Tregoe's results-oriented services and programs, which are focused on several distinct areas: Strategy Formulation and Implementation, Workplace Transformation, Systems and Cost Improvement, Human Performance System redesign, and Skill Development.

Past Participants Include:

• Chrysler Corporation
• Martin Marietta Corporation
• The Hertz Corporation

This seminar has 21 available dates/locations. Click the button below to view them all and to sign up for this seminar. To quickly return to this seminar at a later time, you can search by its QuickCode: QQABGU.

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