VPS 5-6 Strategic Thinking & Advanced Problem Solving

Strategic thinking and problem solving

- Understand how the current context is shaping the VPS

- Utilise strategic thinking in senior leadership

- Respond to emerging challenges

Enhancing your decision-making

- Learn cognitive principles and tools

- Address common limitations and challenges

- Use models and tools to enhance capabilities

Advanced problem solving for senior leaders

- Objectively collect and evaluate evidence

- Explore reason-based approaches

- Apply rational and creative tools and techniques

Influencing others on key issues

- Involve stakeholders in identifying problems and solutions

- Integrate perspectives to facilitate shared understanding

- Resolve group conflict and disagreement

Understanding the problem

- Define key variables, causes, scope, impact, and constraints

- Evaluate impacts and consequences

- Develop solution criteria and the approach to resolution

Identifying and evaluating possible solutions

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

- Take stock of required skills, knowledge and resources

- Develop skills in leadership, management, and deployment

From strategy to results

- Test solutions through prototypes, pilots, simulations

- Adopt a systematic approach to solution implementation

- Build engagement and embed change 

Overcome roadblocks to strategic excellence

- Address biases, ideological paradigms, and group-based challenges

- Navigate the challenging nature of ‘wicked problems’ 

- Cultivate and maintain your new found skills