EL1 & EL2 Strategic Thinking & Advanced Problem Solving Workshop

Strategic thinking and problem solving in the APS

- How the current context is shaping the APS

- The role of strategic thinking in executive leadership

- Responding to emerging challenges

Enhancing your decision-making

- Cognitive principles, and tools essential for effectiveness

- Addressing common limitations and challenges

- Utilise models, tools and tactics to enhance overall capabilities

Advanced problem solving for executive leaders

- How to objectively collect and evaluate evidence

- Exploring reason-based approaches to tackle complex solving

- Applying rational and creative problem solving tools and techniques

Leading and influencing others on key issues

- Effectively engaging stakeholders to understand the problem and identifying potential solutions

- Integrating multi-stakeholder perspectives and facilitating shared understanding

- Resolving conflict and disagreement in group problem solving

Definition: Understanding the problem

- Reaching agreement on the problem: Defining key variables, known causes, structure, scope, stakeholder impact, interdependencies and constraints 

- Evaluating impacts and consequences

- Developing solution criteria and the approach to resolution

Analysis: Identifying and evaluating possible solutions

- Generating and evaluate solutions based on feasibility, impact and risk

- Taking stock of required skills, knowledge and resources to resolve the problem or realise the opportunity

- Leadership, management, planning and team deployment considerations 

Implementation: From strategy to results

- Testing solutions through prototypes, pilots, simulations

- Adopting a systematic approach to solution implementation

- Building engagement and embedding change 

Overcome roadblocks to strategic excellence

- Addressing cognitive biases, ideological paradigms, and group-based challenges

- Navigate the challenging nature of ‘wicked problems’ 

- Cultivating and maintaining your new found skills