Problem Solving: The Fundamentals

Course details

• 'The problem,' says author and psychiatrist Theodore Rubin, 'is not that there are problems. The problem is expecting otherwise and thinking that having problems is a problem.' A problem is a question or situation that presents doubt, perplexity, or difficulty. It's an issue that needs to be corrected or overcome in order to achieve a desired state. Problem solving involves goal-oriented thinking and action in situations for which no ready-made solutions exist. Whether consciously or unconsciously, everybody solves problems relating to their personal or work life every day. However, you can greatly improve your problem-solving effectiveness by gaining a better understanding of the problem-solving process, essential skills, and required competencies, as well as an awareness of the mind traps and pitfalls that impair the process. This course takes you through the essentials of problem solving and explores some of its challenges. Materials designed to support blended learning activities aligned with this course are available from the Resources Page.
• sequence key activities performed in the six-step problem-solving model
• recognize the effects of five types of mind traps
• determine how to counteract the effects of problem-solving traps exhibited in a given scenario
• recognize activities that demonstrate the type of skills best suited to resolve a given type of problem
• match problem-solving competencies to their descriptions