NSW Public Sector Grades 9-10 Critical Thinking & Problem Solving
20th - 21st, February 2024 / Online
Overview
• Unpack critical thinking as a mental process and set of action steps to address everyday problems
• Use a structured systems thinking approach to analysing problems and designing solutions
• Leverage the skills of creative and lateral thinking in complex problem solving
• Overcome common roadblocks to critical thinking and problem solving
Speakers
Alexandra O’Mara
Alex is the Director of Sustainable Solutions Advisory Pty Ltd, with expertise in strategy, policy, sustainability, and leadership. She serves as the Senior ESG Advisor at BDO, Chief Advisor at the Urban Transformation Centre of Western Sydney University, and a Non-Executive Director at St George Community Housing and Place Management NSW. She holds a Master's in Administrative Law and Policy from the University of Sydney, and previously held Senior Executive Roles in the NSW Government, including 5 years as a Deputy Secretary, leading significant policy and legislative reform across a range of areas including environment and sustainability, infrastructure, planning and design, building and construction, renewable energy and natural resource management.
Director
Sustainable Solutions Advisory
Agenda
Workshop
Critical thinking and problem solving as a key priority in the NPS
- Review the current context and landscape for problem-solving in the NPS
- Why problem-solving has been identified as a top skilling priority across all levels of the NPS
- How critical thinking provides the necessary lens to frame problems rationally and produce evidence-based solutions
- How problem-solving ability could drive your career advancement in 2022 and beyond
Unpacking critical thinking techniques
- The cognitive principles, tools and strategies essential to critical thinking
- Reviewing critical thinking tools and taking stock of our own limitations and strengths
- How to think like a scientist - Learning how to objectively collect and evaluate evidence
- Whole-brain thinking; exploring creative thinking for generating new ideas and links, acting on intuition, imagining possibilities and connecting ideas through considering alternatives
Problem-solving methods and key tools
- Reviewing common types of problems
- Root cause analysis - getting to the heart of the problem
- Explore how Systems Thinking is applied to provide clarity around root causes, interdependencies, possible constraints and outcomes
- Creating a process map or mind map to provide clarity around the problem
- Creative problem-solving techniques and activities: Abstract questioning, brainstorming, role switching, visualisation, ideation and process re-mapping
Working with others on problem-solving
- Facilitating a shared understanding of issues and problems
- Learn to prepare and present powerful evidence-based arguments and solutions
- Resolving conflict and challenges in group problem solving
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Alexandra O’Mara Director Sustainable Solutions Advisory
Workshop
Definition: Understanding the problem
- Agreeing on the reality of the problem: Definition of key variables: known causal factors, structure, scope, stakeholder impact, interdependencies and constraints
- Evaluating problem impacts
- Consider solution criteria and problem-solving deliverables
Analysis: Identifying and evaluating possible solutions
- Evaluate solutions based on feasibility, impact and risk
- How to approach complex or ‘wicked problems’ (problems resistant to conventional resolution)
- Review tools, priorities and resources available (including expertise)
Implementation: The problem-solving process in action
- Approaching the problem-solving process as a system, applying a critical thinking lens at all stages, consider:
- Problem identification, detection or framing
- Design of possible solutions, opportunities or courses of action
- Evaluation and selection of solution
- Consideration of risk, including feasibility, uncertainty/error
- Decision on Implementation
- Deployment of solution
- Monitoring, learning and evaluation
Overcoming the roadblocks to critical thinking and problem solving
- Cognitive biases, ideological conflict and problems arising in groups
- Observation blind-spots and measurement errors
- The inherently challenging nature of ‘wicked problems’
- Cultivating your skills and maintaining your edge as a critical thinker
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Alexandra O’Mara Director Sustainable Solutions Advisory
Group Discounts
Pricing
Rapid Action
DISCOUNT ENDED
SAVE UP TO$800
Value Plus
DISCOUNT ENDED
SAVE UP TO$600
Early Bird
Ends January 19
SAVE UP TO$200
Venue
Online
Join us online, from the comfort of your home or office.
