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Master Strategic Thinking and Problem Solving Skills

4.4 Filled star Filled star Filled star Filled star Empty star
Based on 15,023 ratings
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Warren Chalklen, PhD

"

In order to further improve the student experience, there is a free download of an Excel workbook packed with activities and ready to use models. This helps ensure everything is even easier to understand & even more fun and engaging.

Are you ready to take your career to the next level? In this course, you will learn a range of problem solving and decision making strategies. This course covers important topics such as decision making skills, conflict resolution models, product analysis and strategic thinking. You will learn or remind yourself of these concepts that will help make you more successful.

Read more

"

In order to further improve the student experience, there is a free download of an Excel workbook packed with activities and ready to use models. This helps ensure everything is even easier to understand & even more fun and engaging.

Are you ready to take your career to the next level? In this course, you will learn a range of problem solving and decision making strategies. This course covers important topics such as decision making skills, conflict resolution models, product analysis and strategic thinking. You will learn or remind yourself of these concepts that will help make you more successful.

The contents of this course are all based on my work experience as a Policy Analyst in The Office of the Presidency of South Africa, founder of Grow2Lead, a leadership and non-profit organization in South Africa and a Data Associate for a leading Education nonprofit in New York City. I received a PhD from Texas A&M University and a Master's degree in Public Administration from the Bush School of Government. This course ties together both my theoretical knowledge and practical experience in a dynamic, practical and applicable way.

Students of this course will enjoy learning a range of problem solving and decision making strategies….from the Eisenhower Model, SWOT analysis, to the Long Tail, Integration and Cost-Benefit Analysis Techniques. Use this course to take your career to the next level.

What are the requirements?

  • Come ready to learn :)

What am I going to get from this course?

  • Join a global community of students.

  • Superb reviews.

  • Over twenty decision making and problem solving strategies.

  • Learn how to make better decisions.

  • Use the models to resolve conflicts and deliver great feedback.

  • Conduct a product analysis.

  • Analyze policy

  • After this course you will have the tools / skills needed to make important decision to take you to the next level.

Who is the target audience?

  • Anyone interested in learning about or brushing up on their decision making skills.

Enroll now

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Learn how to make better decisions and plan strategically
  • Use the models to resolve conflicts and deliver great feedback
  • Conduct a product analysis
  • Analyze policy

Syllabus

The John Whitmore model is useful to evaluate goals. In this lecture we craft a goal, and then use a criteria to ensure that it reaches at least 80% of an effectively worded goal.

Read more

This lecture describes decision paths in the form of a tree. It then guides you how to enter your own decisions into the matrix and make a decision.

In this lecture I describe the decision making workbook. Especially, where to find each skill and how to use the resource most effectively.

Use this lecture to download all your important resources.

We can often be the barrier to our own process. Find out more in this lecture.

Complex policy problems are great areas to explore multiple decision making strategies. This lecture describes a policy problem: Increasing the number of high school students entering college.

Use an eight step process to analyze any policy.

Begin by understanding the problem from multiple perspectives.

Discover how to generate policy alternatives to solve complex problems.

What will you use to measure your policy against? Use this video to develop basic measurement variables.

Use a simple rating technique to conduct the analysis.

Confront the tradeoffs in the video - measure your benefits against the costs.

Use this lecture to learn how to craft the perfect policy brief.

Explore a decision tool used by a former president in this session. We also use a table to categorize a problem into quadrants.

The IDEAL model is a revolutionary problem solving tool. Find out more in this lecture.

If there is ever a need to sort people or items by a random order, the Random and Sort method is perfect for you.

Long term decisions often scare us. This session describes a model that can provide more clarity.

The rubber band model is perfect for discerning between to "good" decisions. In this session we explore the thrust of this framework.

Perhaps the oldest and most common form of decision making, this lecture provides an short and sweet overview of the pros and cons model.

This model is popular in the fields of government and science. We discuss how ti can be used in strategic analysis as well.

How to measure the economic cost of a problem.

Learn how to calculate future costs of a problem

Weight the current and future costs against the benefits.

Put all the costs and benefits together to decide a way forward.

We explore the foundation of conflict management.

Here we explore the work of the greatest management theorist of the 21st century: Mary Parker Follet. You will learn why she believed that compromise was the worst outcome for conflict.

Giving great feedback is the most important tool of being a manager. In this lesson we explore this further.

Conflict often emerges from competing desires. Here we learn how to differentiate desire from needs.

This model is perfect for thinking about how to position your product or business in relation to market share and market growth.

This lecture describes the 20/80 principle.

Placing a product in the market requires a lot of planning and strategy. The Long Tail approach helps us think about this further.

Problems can often be solved or created based on the skill level in the organization. In this demo lecture we talk through the steps necessary to conduct a skills audit to help you grasp the skill level in your organization.

Jamie Lerner, one of the greatest Mayors in the world used design thinking to turn Curitiba in Brazil into one of the most efficient and human centered cities in the world. He used Design Thinking to achieve this feat. We learn more here.

Why do some of the same problems persist? Is it because we are using single loop learning? Here we learn how to use double loop learning to address permeant challenges.

How to analyze powerful actors by their influence and impact.

In this lesson we explore the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats model in relation to your organization and it's competitors.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Includes an Excel workbook with activities and models, providing a hands-on approach to learning and applying decision-making strategies in real-world scenarios
Covers a range of problem-solving and decision-making strategies, from the Eisenhower Model to SWOT analysis, equipping learners with a versatile toolkit
Draws upon the instructor's experience in policy analysis, leadership, and education, bridging theoretical knowledge with practical application
Explores conflict resolution models and feedback techniques, which are essential for effective team management and interpersonal communication in professional settings
Examines product analysis techniques, which are useful for professionals involved in product development, marketing, and strategic planning
Analyzes policy, which is relevant for individuals working in government, public administration, or advocacy roles

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Create your own learning path. Save this course to your list so you can find it easily later.
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Reviews summary

Strategic models and problem solving fundamentals

According to learners, this course offers a comprehensive overview of strategic thinking and problem-solving models. Students appreciate the practical tools and strategies provided, finding them immediately applicable to their work or studies. Many highlight the inclusion of a helpful Excel workbook which aids understanding and application. While generally well-received, some mention that the course might be more suited for beginners or those looking for a refresher, potentially lacking depth for more advanced learners. The instructor's expertise is often noted.
Ideal for introducing concepts or as a review.
"Perfect course for someone new to strategic thinking or needing a foundational understanding."
"Found this to be a great refresher on decision-making frameworks I had previously learned but forgotten."
"It's an excellent starting point if you're looking to grasp the basics of strategic analysis and problem-solving."
"A good course to get introduced to various models, though perhaps not deep enough for experts."
Concepts are explained clearly and concisely.
"The instructor explains complex ideas in a very clear and easy-to-understand manner."
"Appreciated the clarity of the lectures, making the different models accessible."
"The concepts are broken down well, making it easy to follow along even with abstract topics."
"Clear explanations helped me grasp the purpose and application of each strategic tool."
Covers many strategic and problem solving models.
"The course provided a broad overview of many strategic frameworks and decision-making tools."
"I was surprised by the number of different models covered, from SWOT to cost-benefit analysis."
"This course gives you a solid understanding of various problem-solving techniques used in business and policy."
"Great introduction to strategic thinking concepts and multiple models I hadn't encountered before."
Tools and models are practical and easy to apply.
"I could immediately apply the techniques learned in this course to my work projects."
"The included Excel workbook is a fantastic resource that makes practicing the models simple and effective."
"Really appreciate the focus on practical examples and the accompanying workbook for hands-on practice."
"Learned strategies that I can use right away to make better decisions and analyze problems."
May be too basic for experienced learners.
"As someone with prior experience, I found some sections to be a bit too basic and lacking advanced detail."
"While broad, the coverage of individual models could be more in-depth for a 'Master' level course."
"Felt like a good overview but didn't dive deeply enough into complex problem-solving scenarios."
"Would have appreciated more advanced case studies or challenges for those already familiar with the concepts."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Master Strategic Thinking and Problem Solving Skills with these activities:
Review Decision-Making Fundamentals
Reinforce foundational decision-making concepts to better understand the models presented in the course.
Browse courses on Decision-Making
Show steps
  • Review basic decision-making principles.
  • Practice simple decision-making exercises.
Review 'Thinking, Fast and Slow' by Daniel Kahneman
Gain a deeper understanding of cognitive biases and how they affect decision-making.
View Noise: A Flaw in Human Judgment on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read 'Thinking, Fast and Slow'.
  • Identify cognitive biases in your own decision-making.
  • Reflect on how to mitigate these biases.
Analyze a Past Decision Using Course Models
Apply the decision-making models learned in the course to a real-world scenario to solidify understanding.
Show steps
  • Select a past decision you made.
  • Apply several course models to analyze the decision.
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of each model.
  • Document your findings and insights.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Create a Decision-Making Model Comparison Chart
Synthesize the various decision-making models presented in the course by creating a comparison chart.
Show steps
  • List the decision-making models from the course.
  • Identify key characteristics of each model.
  • Create a chart comparing the models.
Practice SWOT Analysis on Different Scenarios
Reinforce your understanding of SWOT analysis by applying it to diverse business and personal scenarios.
Show steps
  • Find several different scenarios.
  • Conduct a SWOT analysis for each scenario.
  • Compare the results of each analysis.
Develop a Strategic Plan for a Small Business
Apply strategic thinking and problem-solving skills to create a comprehensive strategic plan.
Show steps
  • Choose a small business to analyze.
  • Conduct market research and competitive analysis.
  • Develop a strategic plan using course models.
  • Present the plan to stakeholders.
Review 'The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People' by Stephen Covey
Explore a principle-centered approach to problem-solving and personal effectiveness.
View The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: 30th... on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read 'The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People'.
  • Identify how the 7 habits relate to strategic thinking.
  • Apply the 7 habits to your own life.

Career center

Learners who complete Master Strategic Thinking and Problem Solving Skills will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Policy Analyst
A Policy Analyst researches and analyzes existing policies and proposed legislation to determine their effectiveness and impact. This course directly addresses the skills needed for this role. The course includes coverage of policy analysis and demonstrates how to analyze policy using an eight-step process. As a Policy Analyst, knowing how to generate policy alternatives and measure their impact is essential. Furthermore, the course’s focus on strategic thinking helps a Policy Analyst understand the broader context of policy decisions.
See salaries and explore the career path for Policy Analyst
Business Strategist
A Business Strategist develops and implements strategic plans to achieve organizational goals. This course directly aligns with the core responsibilities of this role. The course covers strategic thinking tools that Business Strategists can use to analyze market trends, forecast future scenarios, and formulate effective strategies. The course's coverage of product analysis may be useful for evaluating existing products and identifying new opportunities. A Business Strategist can become more effective by mastering the concepts in this course.
See salaries and explore the career path for Business Strategist
Entrepreneur
An Entrepreneur starts and manages their own business, taking on the risks and rewards of their venture. This course helps entrepreneurs refine the decision making skills that are critical for success. The course introduces problem solving strategies and helps promote the kind of strategic thinking that entrepreneurs need to navigate uncertainties and challenges. The course's coverage of product analysis may be useful for evaluating existing products and identifying new opportunities. An entrepreneur can become more effective by mastering the strategic concepts in this course.
See salaries and explore the career path for Entrepreneur
Management Consultant
A Management Consultant advises organizations on how to improve their performance and efficiency. They analyze problems and create solutions, often involving strategic planning and decision making. This course helps build a foundation for this role by introducing various problem solving strategies, such as SWOT analysis and cost-benefit techniques, which management consultants use to evaluate business situations. The course's emphasis on conflict resolution models and product analysis may also be useful when a Management Consultant has to optimize organizational processes or resolve internal disputes, as they may be expected to do.
See salaries and explore the career path for Management Consultant
Nonprofit Director
A Nonprofit Director manages the operations, programs, and fundraising efforts of a nonprofit organization. This course helps build a foundation for this role by introducing various problem solving strategies applicable in the nonprofit sector. The course’s emphasis on decision making may also be useful when a Nonprofit Director has to optimize organizational funding or resolve internal disputes, as they may be expected to do. Strategic thinking is at the core of this role, and this course helps cultivate that skill.
See salaries and explore the career path for Nonprofit Director
Chief Executive Officer
A Chief Executive Officer is the highest-ranking executive in an organization, responsible for making strategic decisions and overseeing its overall direction. Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills are essential for CEOs, and this course helps cultivate those skills. The course covers decision-making strategies, which are critical for CEOs to make informed choices about the future of the company. The course's instruction in conflict resolution may be useful to improve the way that a CEO addresses disputes.
See salaries and explore the career path for Chief Executive Officer
Product Manager
A Product Manager guides the development and launch of new products. This course can help someone in this role by providing tools for product analysis. Product Managers use strategic thinking to define product vision and roadmap, which is covered in the course. The course's emphasis on problem-solving strategies may additionally be useful for making critical product decisions. A Product Manager may benefit from the skills and knowledge taught in this course.
See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager
Chief Operations Officer
A Chief Operations Officer oversees the day-to-day operations of an organization to ensure efficiency and effectiveness. This course may be useful for honing the decision-making skills needed to guide operations effectively. COOs use strategic thinking to optimize processes and identify areas for improvement. Skills in conflict resolution, which are addressed in this course, may also be useful when a COO needs to lead people through roadblocks, disagreements, or conflicts. A COO may benefit from the models presented in this course.
See salaries and explore the career path for Chief Operations Officer
Market Research Analyst
A Market Research Analyst studies market conditions to examine potential sales of a product or service. This course may be useful because it introduces product analysis techniques that Market Research Analysts can apply to assess market demand and competitive landscapes. The course discusses strategic thinking, which is useful for interpreting market trends and predicting future opportunities. The course may be useful to hone the skills needed to become an effective Market Research Analyst. An advanced degree may be expected for this role.
See salaries and explore the career path for Market Research Analyst
Financial Analyst
A Financial Analyst provides guidance to businesses and individuals making investment decisions. This course may be useful because it introduces cost-benefit analysis techniques that Financial Analysts can apply to assess the value of investment opportunities. The course also covers strategic thinking, which is useful for analyzing market trends and predicting future financial performance. The course may be useful to hone the skills needed to become an effective Financial Analyst.
See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Analyst
Project Manager
A Project Manager is responsible for planning, executing, and closing projects while ensuring they are completed on time and within budget. This course may be useful for honing the decision-making skills needed to guide a project effectively. Project Managers use strategic thinking to anticipate challenges and develop mitigation plans. Skills in conflict resolution, which are addressed in this course, may also be useful when Project Managers need to lead people through roadblocks, disagreements, or conflicts. A Project Manager may benefit from the models presented in this course.
See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager
Human Resources Manager
A Human Resources Manager oversees the administrative functions of an organization. This course helps build a foundation for this role by introducing models to resolve conflicts effectively. A Human Resources Manager may be expected to manage workplace disputes and provide feedback to employees. The course also discusses strategic thinking, which is useful for developing HR policies that align with the overall goals of an organization. The course may be useful to hone the skills needed to become an effective Human Resources Manager.
See salaries and explore the career path for Human Resources Manager
Operations Manager
An Operations Manager oversees the day-to-day activities of an organization to ensure efficiency and effectiveness. This course helps develop the problem-solving and decision-making skills needed for this role. Operations Managers use strategic thinking to optimize processes and identify areas for improvement. The course's instruction in conflict resolution may be useful to improve the way that Operations Managers address workplace disputes. The course may be useful to hone the skills needed to guide operations effectively.
See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Manager
Business Development Manager
A Business Development Manager identifies new business opportunities and builds relationships with clients. Strategic thinking is at the core of this role, and this course helps cultivate that skill. The course's coverage of strategic thinking tools may be useful for identifying market opportunities and developing strategies to capture them. Additionally, the course's focus on product analysis helps a Business Development Manager understand the strengths and weaknesses of their own products and those of competitors. The course may be useful to hone the skills needed to guide business development effectively.
See salaries and explore the career path for Business Development Manager
Data Scientist
A Data Scientist analyzes large datasets to extract meaningful insights and inform decision-making. This course may be useful because it focuses on problem solving and decision making strategies. Data Scientists must think critically about the problems they are trying to solve and select the appropriate analytical techniques. The course's coverage of cost-benefit analysis may be useful for evaluating the value of different data science projects. An advanced degree is typically expected for this role.
See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Master Strategic Thinking and Problem Solving Skills.
Cover image
Noise
Save
Explores the two systems that drive the way we think. System 1 is fast, intuitive, and emotional; System 2 is slower, more deliberative, and more logical. Understanding these systems can help you identify biases and improve your decision-making skills. It provides a strong theoretical foundation for many of the practical models discussed in the course. This book is highly recommended for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the cognitive processes underlying strategic thinking.
Noise: A Flaw in Human Judgment
Paperback
$$
(Español) Ruido: Un fallo en el juicio humano / Noise: A Flaw...
Hardcover
$$
(Français) Noise: Pourquoi nous faisons des erreurs de...
Kindle Edition
$$
By Daniel Kahneman Best Seller 2 Boks collection...
Paperback
$$
(Deutsch) Noise (German edition): Was unsere Entscheidungen...
Audible Audiobook
$$
Cover image
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Save
Presents a holistic, principle-centered approach for solving personal and professional problems. With penetrating insights and practical anecdotes, Covey reveals a step-by-step pathway for living with fairness, integrity, honesty, and human dignity. It emphasizes proactive thinking and goal setting, which are crucial for effective strategic thinking. This book serves as a valuable resource for developing a strong personal foundation for strategic leadership.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: 30th...
Hardcover
$$

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Rating
4.4 Filled star Filled star Filled star Filled star Empty star
Effort
2.5 total hours
Via
Udemy
Instructor
Warren Chalklen, PhD
Language
English
Traffic lights
Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Includes an Excel workbook with activities and models, providing a hands-on approach to learning and applying decision-making strategies in real-world scenarios
Covers a range of problem-solving and decision-making strategies, from the Eisenhower Model to SWOT analysis, equipping learners with a versatile toolkit
Draws upon the instructor's experience in policy analysis, leadership, and education, bridging theoretical knowledge with practical application
Explores conflict resolution models and feedback techniques, which are essential for effective team management and interpersonal communication in professional settings
Examines product analysis techniques, which are useful for professionals involved in product development, marketing, and strategic planning
Analyzes policy, which is relevant for individuals working in government, public administration, or advocacy roles
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