Decision-Making for Managers

Strategic decisions are not only among the most important decisions we make daily, but also the most challenging because they present multiple, conflicting, strategic objectives and points of view, which are difficult to balance. They involve long-term impacts that are hard to predict and quantify, require creativity in the definition of winning alternatives and, typically entail a commitment of a huge amount of resources, which may be irreversible.

This training course offers you the opportunity to overcome these challenges, master the art and science of strategic decision making, and gain experience with proven techniques for making better strategic decisions in the contexts of complexity, uncertainty and often conflicting objectives.

By attending this training course, delegates will be able to:

• Grasp the reasons for making decisions using the process of structured analysis
• Identify when and how to involve others in the process making decisions or solving problem
• Apply the steps to use to achieve the highest probability of successful decisions and solutions
• Interpret and analyse data more successfully
• Appreciate the significance and value of various problem-solving approaches and styles
• Develop an operational framework for effectively facing a variety of problem situations

This course is suitable to a wide range of professionals but will greatly benefit:

• Managers who are or will be in leadership positions
• Executives from across the organizations who are involved in important decisions
• Team leaders
• Anyone wishing to develop their decision readiness and confidence

Day One: Effective Decision Making

• Define decision making
• Rational v emotional decision making
• Individual v Collective
• The science behind decisions
• Avoiding decision making
• Psychological biases

Day Two: Decision Models

• Process of decision making
• Kepner Tregoe
• Decision trees
• Other tools
• Intuition: thinking fast and slow
• Neuroscience – the brain is not 2 halves

Day Three: Problem Analysis/ Problem Solving

• Types of problems
• Problem solving process
• Question bursts
• Solving complex problems
• Who makes decisions?
• Getting consensus

Day Four: Managers and Decision-Making

• Strategic decision making
• Understanding the environment
• Variables in strategy development
• Option development/option selection
• Delivering multiple goals, agendas, objectives
• Building a strategic planning framework

Day Five: Engaging & Empowering Staff

• The paradox: compliance v creativity
• Agile decision making
• What if mistakes occur?
• Strategic drift
• Decisions at an inflection point
• Review and action planning

This training course will utilise a variety of proven adult learning techniques to ensure maximum understanding, comprehension and retention of the information presented. This includes a mix of interactive discussions, group exercises, presentations and case studies to engage with delegates and encourage active participation.