To sharpen and deepen participants' problem solving and decision making skills. At the end of this program participants will be better able to:

• understand the steps of effective problem solving system

• know how to use the analytical techniques in each step

• recognize the vital role communication plays at each step

• know what questions to use in order to stimulate communication at each step

• understand the anatomy of problems and why they persist

• understand how to confront problems to prevent future stress

• know how to distinguish between the causes and effects of problems

• know how to label a problem to facilitate discussion and analysis

• know how to find a problem's root cause

• know how to brainstorm optional solutions

• know how to evaluate optional solutions to decide on the most workable strategy

• understand the importance of action planning to implement the chosen solution

• know how to apply the system to real-life problems as they occur in the future.

Through a critical linkage of leading-edge concepts and best practices, participants will acquire a cohesive framework for understanding the crux of problem solving and decision making. The topics covered will include:

• Concept of effective problem solving & decision making

• The characteristics of problems

• The problem solving & decision making process

• Problem identification techniques

• Problem labeling

• Problem cause analysis

• Identifying alternative solutions

• Developing appropriate decisions

• Action planning & implementation

• Individual & consensus decision making