Critical Thinking: Business Analysis and Decision-Making Strategies

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Sharpen your skills by becoming more aware of your own thought process and the thought processes of others. Learn techniques to foster critical thinking through probing and reflecting. Enhance skills in structuring an argument, judging the credibility of a source and making better decisions.  As a result, you become more effective in analysis, communication and leadership.

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Benefits and Learning Outcomes

  • Develop critical thinking and analysis skills
  • Learn techniques for critical thinking and improved focus
  • Enhance customer service through better problem-solving and decision-making
  • Increase situational awareness
  • Become more effective in analysis, communication and leadership

Course Outline/Topics

Seminar Outline

Overview of Critical Thinking

  1. Definitions of Critical Thinking
  2. Components of Critical Thinking
  3. Critical vs. Noncritical Thinking
  4. Ways to Become a Critical Thinker
    • Activity: Self analysis
  5. Critical Thinking model
  6. How to Stimulate Critical Thinking in a Team
  7. Preventing Groupthink
  8. Baloney Detection: Skeptical Thinking
    • Activity: Baloney detection quiz

Asking Questions and Problem Definition

  1. Asking probing questions
    • Activity: Asking smart questions
  2. Structuring problem statements
  3. Goal statements
    • Activity: Develop a problem and goal statement
  4. Identifying the cause of the problem
  5. Divergent/convergent thinking
  6. Mind mapping
  7. Fishbone diagram
  8. Consensus thinking
    • Activity: Consensus thinking

 Business Problem Analysis and Decision Making

  1. Business problem analysis model
  2. SWOT analysis
  3. Examples for using SWOT analysis
    • Activity: Problem solving and decision making
  4. Decision/event trees
  5. Expected monetary value
    • Activity: Decision/event tree
  6. Six Thinking Hats: Approach to decision making
  7. Parallel thinking
    • Activity: Applying Six Thinking Hats
  8. Making decisions
  9. Decision-making strategies
    • Activity: Selecting the best decision-making strategy
  10. Who makes the decision?
  11. Decision-making strategies
  12. Decision methods
    • Decision by consensus
    • Grid analysis
    • Weighted grid analysis
    • Pareto analysis
    • Qualitative decision-making methods
    • Activity: Picking the best decision method
    • Activity: Balancing the budget

Who Should Attend

Those who want to improve their problem-solving and decision-making abilities, as well as individuals who want to challenge their current approach to analysis.

Instructor

Critical Thinking: Business Analysis and Decision-Making Strategies

Barbara Farmerie, MBA, PMP

Barb Farmerie was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, starting her career at a bank as a systems analyst. Moving to Milwaukee to further advance her career in information technology (and get married) proved successful. She worked for a large consumer goods… read more

Meet Instructor Barbara Farmerie, MBA, PMP

Testimonials

Barb is an excellent instructor!  I’m very happy I attended this class.


Margarita Steinmetz, CBRE|ESI

Barbara is extremely knowledgeable and has a wide breadth of experience. She provided steps to analyze and solve problems to move forward. Really liked the class activities.


Emily Olson, Educators Credit Union