Critical Thinking: Business Analysis and Decision-Making Strategies
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.
The PMI Authorized Training Partner logo is a registered mark of the Project Management Institute, Inc.
This course can be applied to the following certificates:
Business Analysis Certificate
Project Management – Advanced Certificate
Project Management Certificate
Instructor
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
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.
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
- Definitions of Critical Thinking
- Components of Critical Thinking
- Critical vs. Noncritical Thinking
- Ways to Become a Critical Thinker
- Activity: Self analysis
- Critical Thinking model
- How to Stimulate Critical Thinking in a Team
- Preventing Groupthink
- Baloney Detection: Skeptical Thinking
- Activity: Baloney detection quiz
Asking Questions and Problem Definition
- Asking probing questions
- Activity: Asking smart questions
- Structuring problem statements
- Goal statements
- Activity: Develop a problem and goal statement
- Identifying the cause of the problem
- Divergent/convergent thinking
- Mind mapping
- Fishbone diagram
- Consensus thinking
- Activity: Consensus thinking
Business Problem Analysis and Decision Making
- Business problem analysis model
- SWOT analysis
- Examples for using SWOT analysis
- Activity: Problem solving and decision making
- Decision/event trees
- Expected monetary value
- Activity: Decision/event tree
- Six Thinking Hats: Approach to decision making
- Parallel thinking
- Activity: Applying Six Thinking Hats
- Making decisions
- Decision-making strategies
- Activity: Selecting the best decision-making strategy
- Who makes the decision?
- Decision-making strategies
- 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
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
Meet Instructor Barbara Farmerie, MBA, PMP
Date: Mon-Tues, Apr 21, 22 and 28, 29
Delivery Method: Live Online
Time: 1:00pm - 4:30pm CT
Platform: Zoom
Instructor: Barbara Farmerie MBA, PMP
Fee:
$845 by Apr 7, 2025
$895 after Apr 7, 2025
CEUs: 1.4, PDUs: 14.0
Enrollment Limit: 20
Program Number: 5025-16385
Note: Participants will receive instructions for logging into Canvas to access course materials and Zoom links approximately one week prior to the course start date.
Full payment or arrangement for payment (i.e. purchase order or payment plan) must be made before the first day of class.
Registration Deadline: Apr 21, 2025
Contact Us
Authorized Training Partner of
