Class Details
Problem Solving and Decision-Making Course
Course summary
With the rapid and continuous changes in market conditions, customers' behaviour, and the technological landscape, it has become crucial for organisations to develop their decision-making capacity when operating in a world that is increasingly volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA).
This short course is tailored for organisations that recognise the importance of staff development as a strategic investment in navigating the VUCA world, which is essential to remaining competitive.
How do you frame complex problems amidst ambiguous and incomplete information? What new type of thinking and operating is needed to navigate unknowns? How to manage the risks associated with the introduction of new technologies? What are the frameworks and strategies of the new ways of problem solving?
Aims
This course will teach you practical tools and hands-on techniques for solving problems and making effective decisions. Through interactive activities and real-world case studies, you will learn to address the specific challenges of each VUCA dimension, apply tools like Backcasting, Cross-Impact Analysis, and the OODA Loop, and explore frameworks including Cynefin and system mapping.
Learning outcomes
By the end of this course, you should be able to:
- use different types of thinking when you cannot predict the future, and understand when to apply these thinking approaches
- analyse complex situations using the Cynefin framework
- understand how to prepare for rapid changes and associated decision-making
- apply frameworks and tools for uncovering unknowns when analysing problems.
Content
Problem solving and decision-making in a VUCA world
- Understanding the VUCA world
- Challenges in making decisions in VUCA
- Making decisions by addressing each dimension of a VUCA world
Tools to frame decision-making and problem complexity
- Backcasting as a tool for scenario planning
- Cross impact analysis
- The OODA loop
- Cynefin framework
- System mapping using rich map
- Experiment interventions in the system
- Mapping assumptions and exploring ignorance
Case study
- Traditional planning and problem-solving methods
- Initial responses and quick fixes
- Transition to resilient solutions
- Practical and impractical solutions
Who this course is for
Future leaders building their capacity to lead and make critical team-based decisions in the context of ambiguous and incomplete information for improved and safe operations.
Prerequisites
None
Delivery mode
- Face-to-face, presenter-taught workshop
- Online workshop via the platform Zoom
Materials
All course materials are provided electronically using Dropbox.
If you are attending a class taking place online, please ensure you have access to Miro.
Sessions
Location
Online via Zoom
Other information
Our online via Zoom courses are interactive and delivered in real-time. You will have the chance to ask questions and join in activities, just as you would in any in-person class.
Our facilitators are well versed in Zoom delivery and will skillfully guide you in your online learning journey.
Instructions regarding how to connect to online classes will be sent to participants about 4 days before the class commences.
Meet the facilitators
Trena Blair
Trena empowers leaders to lead with purpose.
With an international executive career spanning Australia and the USA, Trena has led billion-dollar P&Ls, managed global teams of over 400, and driven strategic growth across multiple industries. She brings more than 20 years of senior leadership experience to her work with business leaders navigating complexity and transformation.
A highly respected thought leader in strategy, leadership, governance and risk management, and women’s advancement, Trena is regularly engaged to design and deliver programs for organisations such as the University of Sydney Business School, the American Australian Chamber of Commerce, UNSW Australian Graduate School of Management, the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Mastercard, and Discover Global Network.
She is an experienced presenter of business leadership programs, including governance and risk Management, leadership, and strategic planning and management.
Trena is a qualified Company Director and maintains an active board portfolio, providing governance and strategic oversight in both commercial and not-for-profit sectors. Her thought leadership has been featured in Forbes, Business Insider, and CEO Magazine, and she is a multi-award winning businesswoman, and best-selling author of Decoding Global Growth: How successful companies scale internationally.
Her academic credentials include a Bachelor of Arts (Education) and a Bachelor of Education (Deakin University), a Graduate Diploma in Management (UNSW AGSM), and the General Management and Leadership Program (Harvard Business School).
Her mission? To inspire courageous, strategic leaders to grow with clarity, act with impact, and lead with purpose.
