Managerial Decision Making and Problem Solving

Managers are constantly confronted with solving complex problems and making critical decisions. If not handled properly, these problems can have severe negative effects on operations and profitability. This course equips managers with the right tools and techniques to ensure they will find proper and permanent solutions to problems and make optimum decisions. Participants will learn how to develop the right mindset for solving ​problems, and enable them to understand, analyze and appreciate the different types of problems, conduct in-depth root cause analysis and make the right decisions for permanent solutions. Participants will also discover that some problems cannot be solved using rational problem solving methods but need different, more creative approaches. In this course we will enhance the participants' idea generating proficiency and we will enable them to lead a creative team. Finally, and after a solution is formulated and a decision is made, participants will learn how to 'sell' their solutions to stakeholders and get the buy in. On this course, participants will also discover how to influence others and get support for what has been decided.

This highly practical and interactive course uses models, practical exercises, case studies, presentations and group discussions to develop managerial problem solving and decision making capabilities.

Participants in a group will be challenging other groups' findings and results and will be defending theirs. The use of participants’ real work situations adds practicality and facilitates transfer of learning. Participants will safely practice learned techniques which will then be easily applicable at the workplace

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Explain the structured model for systematically addressing problems and decisions
• Practice the use of key tools and techniques for analyzing and solving problems
• Conduct a comprehensive root cause analysis of any problem
• Demonstrate the use of several disciplines in decision making
• Identify various creative idea generating tools which can be practically applied at the workplace
• Apply influencing techniques to enable better decision making and implementation

Team leaders, department managers and supervisors who are involved in leading and participating in solving their teams’ problems, as well as making and implementing decisions.

• Problem solving
• Decision making
• Creativity
• Situational analysis
• Influencing
• Leadership