NSW Public Sector Grades 11-12 Strategic Thinking & Advanced Problem Solving

Strategic thinking and problem solving in the NPS

- How the current strategic context is shaping the NPS

- NPS executive-level leadership and the importance of strategic thinking and problem solving

- Responding to emerging strategic challenges

Strategic thinking skills and tools

- The cognitive principles, tools and strategies essential to strategic thinking

- Common limitations and challenges to strategic thinking

- Models, tools and tactics to shape strategic thinking

Advanced problem solving for executive leaders

- How to objectively collect and evaluate evidence

- Exploring reason-based approaches to problem solving

- Applying rational and creative problem solving tools and techniques to address strategic issues

Leading and influencing others on strategic issues

- Effectively engaging stakeholders to understand the problem and identify 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 problem impacts

- Developing solution criteria and the problem solving approach

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: prototypes, pilots, simulations

- Adopting a systematic approach to solution implementation

- Building engagement and embedding change 

Overcoming roadblocks to strategic thinking and problem solving

- Cognitive biases, ideological paradigms and group-based

- The inherently challenging nature of ‘wicked problems’ 

- Cultivating your skills and maintaining your edge as a strategic thinker and problem solver