Apply Systems Thinking in Problem Solving & Decision Making

Course details

We face an array of problems and decisions on a daily basis. By understanding problems from a systems thinking standpoint, you are able to see how they are interconnected and the impact on your organisation.

This course provides you with the approaches and tools of systems thinking to help facilitate your problem solving and decision making process.

Target Audience:

This course is suitable for executives or managers, especially those who are responsible for the operation and performance of a team. It is also useful for people in small businesses or the self-employed.

Course Objectives:

At the end of the course, you will be able to:

• Analyse a problematic situation systemically to gain insights to the root causes
• Have the confidence in presenting the causes of wicked problems using systems diagrams
• Sharpen decision-making ability with clear alertness to unintended consequences
• Develop a proactive mind-set by looking at innovative opportunities in the midst of messy situations
• Be a more influential systems thinker that everyone turns to for effective problem handling

Course Outline:

Unravel Mess Through Systems Thinking

• Why solutions don’t work
• Differentiate between difficulties & wicked problems or mess
• Integrate reductionist thinking & holistic thinking
• Work to improve mess

Apply Systems Thinking Approaches & Processes to Identify Root Causes

• Apply holistic approach to see interconnectedness
• Apply perspective approach to achieve comprehensive understanding
• Draw rich pictures to view the mess
• Identify themes of mess
• Draw systems diagram to understand interconnections

Use Systems Archetype Tools to Formulate Interventions for Improvements

How to apply the following eight archetype tools for formulating interventions:

• Limits to success
• Shift the burden
• Eroding goals
• Escalation
• Success to the successful
• Tragedy of the common
• Fixes that fail
• Growth & underinvestment

Draw causal loop diagram (CLD) for analysis

Develop Implementation Plan to Achieve Sustainable Success

• Use soft systems methodology (SSM) for sustainable result
• Explore problematic situations
• Create purposeful activities
• Discuss the problematic situations
• Define & carry out actions to improve 

Assess the Effectiveness of the Chosen Interventions

• Apply the 5Es of efficacy, efficiency, effectiveness, elegance & ethicality
• Sharing this information with others
• Documenting the process

Methodology: Mini-lectures, plenary discussions, small group discussions, role-plays, exercises, presentations, case studies etc.

Teacher & Student Ratio: 1:25 (maximum capacity)