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Critical Thinking & Problem Solving

In today's business environment, organizations have identified critical thinking and problem-solving as skills that are integral to an employee's--and their organization's--success.

The most successful professionals can assess the environment, analyze a situation, design a solution, and ultimately win in a competitive scenario.

In today's business environment, organizations have identified critical thinking and problem-solving as skills that are integral to an employee's--and their organization's--success.

The most successful professionals can assess the environment, analyze a situation, design a solution, and ultimately win in a competitive scenario.

This course, part of the Leadership Essentials Professional Certificate program, will demystify, discuss, and provide application techniques for critical thinking and problem-solving in a business context. Learners will draw connections to their work experience by analyzing and critiquing case studies. Best practices for problem-solving will be discussed and illustrated including how to weigh alternative solutions, incorporate feedback from stakeholders, and how and when to start over.

What you'll learn

How to perform strategic analysis and assessment
How to perceive and assess a critical need and design a tailored solution
How to identify key stakeholders and ensure their needs are met
How to employ adaptive problem-solving
How to work through obstacles collaboratively
How to analyze failure to improve future performance

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What's inside

Learning objectives

How to perform strategic analysis and assessment
How to perceive and assess a critical need and design a tailored solution
How to identify key stakeholders and ensure their needs are met

How to employ adaptive problem-solving
How to work through obstacles collaboratively
How to analyze failure to improve future performance

How to perform strategic analysis and assessment
How to perceive and assess a critical need and design a tailored solution
How to identify key stakeholders and ensure their needs are met
How to employ adaptive problem-solving
How to work through obstacles collaboratively
How to analyze failure to improve future performance

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Covers skills that are integral to an employee's and their organization's success

Suitable for learners seeking to develop strategic analysis and assessment skills

Focuses on problem-solving skills in a business context, preparing learners for real-world decision-making

Teaches adaptive problem-solving techniques to help learners handle challenges and obstacles

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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 Critical Thinking & Problem Solving with these activities:

Review basic problem-solving techniques

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Refreshing your knowledge of basic problem-solving techniques will provide a solid foundation for the more advanced concepts covered in this course.

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Review problem-solving models and frameworks
Practice applying these techniques to simple problems

Review 'Critical Thinking: A User's Manual' by Peter Facione

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This book provides a foundation for critical thinking and problem solving, which are essential skills for success in this course.

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Read the book thoroughly and take notes
Summarize the key concepts of critical thinking and problem solving
Apply the concepts to real-world examples

Complete problem-solving exercises

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Regular practice will help you develop your problem-solving skills and improve your ability to apply critical thinking to business scenarios.

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Identify the problem and define the goal
Analyze the situation and gather information
Generate and evaluate possible solutions
Implement a solution and monitor its effectiveness

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Join a study group or participate in online discussions

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Working with peers will provide opportunities to share ideas and learn from others, enhance your understanding of course concepts, and improve your problem-solving abilities.

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Find a study group or online discussion forum
Participate actively in discussions
Share your insights and perspectives
Seek feedback from others

Attend a workshop on problem-solving or critical thinking

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Workshops provide focused learning experiences and opportunities to engage with experts and practitioners in the field, which can enhance your understanding and application of critical thinking and problem-solving techniques.

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Research and identify relevant workshops
Register and attend the workshop
Participate actively and take notes
Apply what you learn to your work and personal life

Develop a problem-solving guide or toolkit

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Creating a guide or toolkit will help you synthesize your understanding of problem-solving and provide a valuable resource for future reference and application.

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Identify the key elements and steps of problem-solving
Develop content that provides clear and concise guidance
Organize the content in a logical and user-friendly manner
Review and refine your guide or toolkit based on feedback
Share your guide or toolkit with others

Work on a real-world problem-solving project

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Engaging in a real-world project will provide you with valuable hands-on experience in applying critical thinking and problem-solving skills to solve complex and meaningful challenges.

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Identify a problem that you are passionate about
Research the problem and gather information
Develop and implement a solution
Evaluate the effectiveness of your solution
Reflect on your experience and identify areas for improvement

Career center

Learners who complete Critical Thinking & Problem Solving will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Management Consultant

Management Consultants help organizations improve their performance by providing advice and guidance on a variety of business issues. They use analytical and problem-solving skills to assess an organization's current state, identify areas for improvement, and develop and implement solutions. This course would be beneficial for Management Consultants because it provides a strong foundation in critical thinking and problem-solving, which are essential skills for success in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Management Consultant

Business Analyst

Business Analysts work with stakeholders to identify business needs and develop solutions that meet those needs. They use analytical and problem-solving skills to assess the current state of a business, identify areas for improvement, and develop and implement solutions. This course would be helpful for Business Analysts because it provides a strong foundation in critical thinking and problem-solving, which are essential skills for success in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Data Analyst

Data Analysts use data to identify trends, patterns, and insights that can help businesses make better decisions. They use analytical and problem-solving skills to collect, clean, and analyze data, and then develop and communicate insights to stakeholders. This course would be useful for Data Analysts because it provides a strong foundation in critical thinking and problem-solving, which are essential skills for success in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Product Manager

Product Managers are responsible for the development and launch of new products. They use analytical and problem-solving skills to identify customer needs, develop product specifications, and manage the product development process. This course would be useful for Product Managers because it provides a strong foundation in critical thinking and problem-solving, which are essential skills for success in this role.

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Project Manager

Project Managers are responsible for planning, executing, and closing projects. They use analytical and problem-solving skills to develop project plans, manage project teams, and ensure that projects are completed on time and within budget. This course would be helpful for Project Managers because it provides a strong foundation in critical thinking and problem-solving, which are essential skills for success in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Market Research Analyst

Market Research Analysts study market trends and customer behavior to help businesses make better decisions. They use analytical and problem-solving skills to collect, analyze, and interpret data, and then develop and communicate insights to stakeholders. This course would be helpful for Market Research Analysts because it provides a strong foundation in critical thinking and problem-solving, which are essential skills for success in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Market Research Analyst

Financial Analyst

Financial Analysts use financial data to make investment decisions. They use analytical and problem-solving skills to analyze financial statements, develop financial models, and make investment recommendations. This course would be helpful for Financial Analysts because it provides a strong foundation in critical thinking and problem-solving, which are essential skills for success in this role.

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Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers are responsible for developing and implementing marketing campaigns. They use analytical and problem-solving skills to identify target markets, develop marketing strategies, and track marketing performance. This course would be helpful for Marketing Managers because it provides a strong foundation in critical thinking and problem-solving, which are essential skills for success in this role.

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Sales Manager

Sales Managers are responsible for leading and managing sales teams. They use analytical and problem-solving skills to develop sales strategies, manage sales teams, and track sales performance. This course would be helpful for Sales Managers because it provides a strong foundation in critical thinking and problem-solving, which are essential skills for success in this role.

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Operations Manager

Operations Managers are responsible for planning and managing the operations of a business. They use analytical and problem-solving skills to develop operations strategies, manage operations teams, and ensure that operations are running smoothly. This course would be helpful for Operations Managers because it provides a strong foundation in critical thinking and problem-solving, which are essential skills for success in this role.

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IT Manager

IT Managers are responsible for planning, implementing, and managing IT systems. They use analytical and problem-solving skills to develop IT strategies, manage IT teams, and ensure that IT systems are running smoothly. This course would be helpful for IT Managers because it provides a strong foundation in critical thinking and problem-solving, which are essential skills for success in this role.

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Customer Success Manager

Customer Success Managers are responsible for ensuring that customers are successful with a company's products or services. They use analytical and problem-solving skills to identify customer needs, develop customer success strategies, and manage customer relationships. This course would be helpful for Customer Success Managers because it provides a strong foundation in critical thinking and problem-solving, which are essential skills for success in this role.

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Supply Chain Manager

Supply Chain Managers are responsible for planning and managing the supply chain of a business. They use analytical and problem-solving skills to develop supply chain strategies, manage supply chain teams, and ensure that the supply chain is running smoothly. This course would be helpful for Supply Chain Managers because it provides a strong foundation in critical thinking and problem-solving, which are essential skills for success in this role.

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HR Manager

HR Managers are responsible for managing the human resources of an organization. They use analytical and problem-solving skills to develop HR strategies, manage HR teams, and ensure that HR policies and procedures are followed. This course would be helpful for HR Managers because it provides a strong foundation in critical thinking and problem-solving, which are essential skills for success in this role.

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Operations Research Analyst

Operations Research Analysts study operational processes to devise strategies for efficiency. They use mathematical and analytical models to improve performance, cut costs, and optimize output. This course may be useful to Operations Research Analysts because it teaches critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are essential for analyzing complex business processes and developing effective solutions.

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Featured in The Course Notes

This course is mentioned in our blog, The Course Notes. Read one article that features Critical Thinking & Problem Solving:

Using Online Courses as Study Tools: Unlocking Academic Success

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Reading list

We've selected nine 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 Critical Thinking & Problem Solving.

Critical Thinking Skills

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Provides a comprehensive overview of critical thinking skills, including analysis, argumentation, and problem-solving. It valuable resource for students and professionals who want to improve their ability to think critically and solve problems effectively.

Critical Thinking & Problem Solving

What you'll learn

What's inside

Learning objectives

Good to know

Save this course

Activities

Career center

Featured in The Course Notes

Reading list

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