Why Attend
Analytical and structured thinking skills are essential for professionals who are looking to add long-term strategic value to their organization. Equipped with the proper arsenal of analytical and structured thinking tools, managers can make evidence-based decisions that increase the chances of successfully growing their organization.
In this course, we will go over the best practices that are used in the area of analytical and structured thinking. By attending this course, attendees can master the art and science of dealing with complex information using solid analytical and structured thinking techniques.
Course Methodology
This course relies on the use of several interactive case studies developed specifically for this course to demonstrate the different components of analytical and structured thinking. In addition to the customized cases, this course utilizes individual debriefs, group discussions, role playing, and presentations.
Course Objectives
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
- Apply recognized problem solving techniques and approaches
- Analyze problems and find factual data to support decisions
- Distinguish, evaluate and summarize relevant information
- Generate a broader and more distinct range of solutions
- Define a problem and ensure that the ‘right’ question is being answered
- Justify breaking down a problem into smaller issues that can be tackled independently
- Create a work plan that prioritizes resources and focuses on the key issues
Target Audience
Professionals and managers who are involved in analyzing complex issues related to their organization.
Target Competencies
- Analytical thinking
- Structured thinking
- Problem solving
- Analysis of data
- Balanced decision making
- Results orientation
Course Outline
- Analytical thinking skills
- Understanding how we think and reason
- Adding value to your organization
- Balancing multiple conditions impacting a business situation
- Moving from pieces to the big picture
- Generating creative solutions
- Structuring problems
- The importance of structuring
- Defining the right issue
- Using the issue statement
- Dividing issues into manageable sections
- The use of logic trees in problem solving
- Developing issue trees
- Prioritizing and planning
- The importance of prioritizing work
- Eliminating non-essential issues
- Using the 80:20 rule
- Prioritization methodologies
- Using the prioritization matrix
- Developing practical project plans
- Building an effective work plan
- The concept of synergy
- Characteristics of high performing teams
- Conducting analyses
- Getting the right data
- Types of research
- Primary research development
- Secondary research development
- Conducting informational interviews
- Active listening
- Guided dialogue
- Asking ‘so what?’
- Summary versus synthesis
- Communicating structured and analytical thinking results
- Turning data into findings
- Building effective arguments
- Communicating findings by telling a story
- Story telling elements
- The current situation
- Difficulties in making the situation better
- Possible paths to resolution
