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Problem Solving

Mastering Creative and Collaborative Problem Solving

Published by Pearson

Beginner to advanced content levelBeginner to advanced

Use Time-Tested Tools and Techniques to Become a Successful Problem Solver

  • Learn to use tools such as Design Thinking, the 5 Whys, Forcefield Analysis, and the Ishikawa fishbone analysis to strengthen your problem-solving skills
  • Practice with in-class exercises and empower yourself to problem solve more creatively
  • Understand and apply effective listening skills to support collaborative thinking around problem-solving as a team

Problem solving is one of the most important skills in the workplace today. In a world where technology is reshaping our workplaces and cultural institutions, problem solving is one of the most valuable skills you can have to keep pace with these changes.

In the past decade, technology has disrupted every industry on earth. The future of work will require all kinds of skills: technical know-how, creative problem solving, and adaptability to change being at the top of the list. It is why organizations continue to value employees who can think on their feet and deliver innovative solutions to problems.

Emma Sue Prince, expert in experiential learning, demonstrates practical techniques to boost and strengthen your skills in creative problem solving. This course is a companion to her Mastering Creative and Critical Thinking live course.

Career Success Series

The Career Success Series from Pearson addresses essential skills for your personal and professional development in the areas of communication, presentation, critical thinking, teamwork, leadership, problem solving, and resilience. These skills are critical for any industry, any job title, and any career stage – whether you are just starting out or have been in the workforce for years. Expert trainers deliver practical tools and techniques you can use to enhance your resume, excel in your career, or simply enrich your life skills.

What you’ll learn and how you can apply it

By the end of the live online course, you’ll understand:

  • How to apply creative and critical thinking skills to a range of problems and find workable solutions
  • The key problem-solving tools and techniques and how to apply them
  • The essential attributes and skills that contribute to creative and collaborative problem solving
  • How to build stronger cognitive flexibility to improve your problem-solving skills

And you’ll be able to:

  • Apply a range of tools, such as the 5 Whys, Forcefield Analysis, and the Ishikawa fishbone analysis to support you in creative problem solving
  • Use active listening skills to support more collaborative problem solving
  • Understand the value of Design Thinking and how it can be applied to problem solving in a wide range of contexts.

This live event is for you because...

  • You want to be known in your organization as a problem solver
  • You want to develop your critical and creative thinking to improve your problem-solving skills
  • You need to understand different problem-solving tools and techniques for your job or a role you aspire to
  • You want to strengthen your cognitive thinking skills such as memory, concentration, attention, and decision-making to support your ability to solve a wide range of problems

Prerequisites

  • There are no prerequisites, but having pen and paper handy for the exercises would be useful

Recommended Preparation

Recommended Follow-up

Schedule

The time frames are only estimates and may vary according to how the class is progressing.

Segment 1: Becoming an Effective Problem Solver (45 minutes)

  • Welcome
  • Course objectives and overview
  • Getting the most out of the course
  • What makes someone an effective problem solver?
  • Defining and understanding a problem
  • Exercise 1: What is the problem here?
  • Traits and attributes of an effective problem solver
  • Applying critical thinking to everyday problems
  • Building cognitive flexibility
  • Q&A
  • Break (5 minutes)

Segment 2: Problem-Solving Tools (30 minutes)

  • Identifying problems and root causes
  • The 5 Whys
  • Ishikawa Fishbone
  • Forcefield Analysis
  • Exercise 2: Apply these tools to problem solving—case study exercise.
  • Q&A

Segment 3: Creativity, Collaboration, and Problem Solving (40 minutes)

  • Idea generation
  • The core principles of creative problem solving
  • Empowering collaborative thinking in your team
  • Exercise 3: Using a creative problem solving (CPS) model—practical application.
  • Q&A
  • Break (5 minutes)

Segment 4: Solving Problems Using Design Thinking (20 minutes)

  • What is design thinking?
  • The five stages of design thinking
  • Exercise 4: Applying design thinking to a problem scenario.
  • Q&A

Segment 5: Next Steps to Growing Your Problem-Solving Mindset (30 minutes)

  • Barriers to creative and collaborative problem solving
  • Strengthening your cognitive skills—attention, memory, concentration, and decision-making
  • Building a creative and collaborative mindset every day

Course wrap up and final Q&A (10 minutes)

Your Instructor

  • Emma Sue Prince

    Emma Sue Prince is author of 7 Skills for the Future, published by Pearson Business and translated into 10 languages. A specialist in experiential learning, Emma Sue advocates the power of developing and nurturing the skills she writes about to transform lives.

    The skills are adaptability, critical thinking, empathy, integrity, optimism, being proactive, and resilience.

    Emma Sue delivers powerful workshops across a range of industries from law firms to hospitals to universities and software engineering companies, as well as to “closed” groups globally. She has connected with people across the world delivering her sessions to Muslim communities in Bangladesh and North Africa, as well as to diverse groups in the UK.

    Follow Emma Sue on Instagram: https://instagram.com/7skillsforthefuture?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=