Problem Solving & Decision Making
- 11 Courses | 6h 48m 13s
- 21 Books | 17h 58m
- 7 Audiobooks | 36h 49m 42s
Tackling complex problems and making good decisions are key to the leader's role. Explore best practices.
COURSES INCLUDED
Welcome to the Skillsoft Leadership Development Program
Whether you are an aspiring, new, or experienced leader who leads people or projects, we've designed this curriculum to meet you where you are in your own leadership journey.
1 video |
4m
Badge
Leading through Problem Solving and Decision Making
The hallmark of leadership is being able to work through problems and make tough decisions using the skills and experience of your team. In this course, you'll learn how to use a three stage approach to engage your team in this effort.
7 videos |
46m
Assessment
Badge
PMI PDU
Become a Better Problem Solver by Telling Better Stories, powered by MIT SMR
In this course, the authors explain how to improve problem-solving by using storytelling. They also describe how the story framework can easily summarize any problem for decision makers.
4 videos |
13m
Assessment
Badge
Leadership Insights on Problem Solving & Decision Making
Could you be a better decision maker? Absolutely. Better decisions result from a timely response, collaborative efforts, and an absence of emotions. Become an expert problem solver and start making smarter decisions today.
14 videos |
55m
Badge
Leadercamp on-demand: Demystifying the Problem Solving Process
We all face business problems on a daily basis and often feel at a loss on how to solve them. This Leadercamp provides step-by step guidance on how to identify the core issues, how to effectively communicate the problem, and how to implement solutions. Drawing upon her thirty-three years of experience as Vice President of Communications, Marketing and Public Relations at IBM, Siemens, Nokia, and ROVi Corporation, expert Leadership Coach Yvette Castanon will reveal how we can approach problem solving in a new light. By attending this Leadercamp, you will learn techniques to determine the true scope of the problem, evaluate multiple solutions and implement the best solution.
1 video |
56m
Badge
Leadercamp on-demand: Making Effective Decisions in Teams
The ability of teams to collaborate to make effective decisions is at the heart of organizational performance. However, many teams leave value on the table when making decisions together. By understanding how to design and manage team decisions better, you can increase the performance of your team and the organization as a whole. In this Leadercamp, Dr. Lindy Greer, an award-winning professor at Michigan Ross, will guide you in gaining a comprehensive understanding of how to help your team make effective decisions that elevate their performance and the organization as a whole. Through her expertise and guidance, you'll learn how to design a team set up for great decisions, manage the discussion process, and make high-quality decisions that inspire commitment and buy-in and help the team and organization perform effectively.
1 video |
52m
Assessment
Badge
Leadercamp on-demand: Decision Making
It's one thing to generate lots of great ideas, but how do you choose? Most of the time, making a decision can be stressful, and getting everyone on the same page can be very difficult. In this Leadercamp, PMP and managing partner at Lemmex Williams Training Steve Lemmex explains the tools to analyze the pros and cons of potential solutions, weigh the risks, and make values-based decisions to solve problems.
1 video |
58m
Assessment
Badge
Leadercamp on-demand: CTS on Problem Solving
We solve problems all day, every day, but only about 10% of our problems require us to apply rigor in our reasoning and solutioning. This problem-solving Leadercamp links to critical thinking habits and helps us, and our teams, work through solving complex problems using a five-step methodology. Using an intentional method to problem solve provides us with defensible recommendations and solutions to implement. This Leadercamp picks up the process after critical thinking has been applied to a problem. In the second in a series of three Leadercamps around critical thinking, PMP and Managing Partner at Lemmex Williams Training Steve Lemmex explores problem solving, how to do it, and how to plan to get your team to adopt a solution-oriented mindset.
1 video |
56m
Assessment
Badge
Problem Solving: Defining and Stating the Problem
For most business professionals, solving problems is a major part of their jobs. But what are often seen as problems are really symptoms of deeper challenges. Treating these symptoms may provide temporary relief, but the deeper issues remain. By investigating the scope of problems and addressing their root causes, you can work toward ultimately finding solutions for sustained success. In this course, you will explore the process of uncovering the roots of business problems, starting with gathering all of the pertinent information necessary to understand the scope of a problem and its effects. You will also learn about the value of root cause analysis and some of the common, popular tools for performing one. Finally, you'll learn how to prepare a problem statement that clearly defines the problem and lays the foundation for finding solutions that address its roots.
6 videos |
20m
Assessment
Badge
Problem Solving: Generating Solutions
When faced with business challenges, defining the problem is an important step, but it's only the first in a series of steps. Now comes the hard part: finding ways to solve the problem. Generating multiple solutions allows you to open up your thinking and reexamine your opportunities and possibilities. Studies have found that when decision makers considered two or more possible solutions, the average failure rate of an implemented solution dropped from 50% to 30%. Generating alternative solutions sets the stage for creativity, innovation, and success. It allows your company to pursue not just a good solution, but the best solution. In this course, you will explore the process of generating alternative solutions to business problems. You'll look at the types of information you need to gather before you can begin, ways to brainstorm creatively and productively, and how to use the ideas that come from it to fashion and solidify actionable solutions. Finally, you'll learn to identify potential pitfalls to generating solutions and how to mitigate or avoid them.
6 videos |
22m
Assessment
Badge
Problem Solving: Choosing and Implementing the Right Solution
Almost any business problem can have more than one solution, but some solutions are better than others. And one of those will be the best solution. Trying to find the best, right solution to a business problem can itself be a problem. Finding that right solution means applying the right process and methods to meet your organization's needs now, and in the future. In this course, you'll explore approaches for analyzing and evaluating alternative solutions to find the one that best solves your problem. You'll learn about the most appropriate criteria for choosing the right solution and best practices for implementing it. Finally, you'll consider ways of evaluating its success and assessing your problem-solving methods.
6 videos |
19m
Assessment
Badge
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EARN A DIGITAL BADGE WHEN YOU COMPLETE THESE COURSES
Skillsoft is providing you the opportunity to earn a digital badge upon successful completion on some of our courses, which can be shared on any social network or business platform.
Digital badges are yours to keep, forever.BOOKS INCLUDED
Book
MIT Sloan Management Review Article on Problem Solving and Decision MakingIn this collection of articles from MIT Sloan Management Review, you'll learn the difference between a decisive leader and an impulsive one, as well as the best way to confront problems within a team.
1h 4m
By MIT Sloan Management Review
Book
MIT Sloan Management Review Article on The Critical Difference Between Complex and ComplicatedThis article from MIT Sloan Management Review discusses how the solutions to complicated problems don't work as well with complex problems and explains why.
7m
By Theodore Kinni
Book
MIT Sloan Management Review Article on Dynamic Networks Improve Remote Decision-MakingThis article from MIT Sloan Management Review discusses how crisis events demand decision-making networks that are dynamic, not static, and respond to frequent feedback.
4m
By Abdullah Almaatouq, Alex “Sandy” Pentland
Book
MIT Sloan Management Review Article on Five Key Elements of Problem-Centric SellingThis article from MIT Sloan Management Review reveals that when it comes to winning over customers, sales teams need to adopt a new approach.
3m
By J. Keenan
BOOK SUMMARY
MIT Sloan Management Review Article on Toyota's Secret: The A3 ReportIn this article from MIT Sloan Management Review, you'll learn Toyota's unique method for problem-solving and decision making.
3m
By MIT Sloan Management Review
Book
MIT Sloan Management Review Article on Want to Make Better Decisions? Start ExperimentingThis article from MIT Sloan Management Review reveals four lessons for using randomized controlled experiments to create value for your company and customers.
14m
By Max H. Bazerman, Michael Luca
BOOK SUMMARY
MIT Sloan Management Review Article on Stop Jumping to Solutions!In this article from MIT Sloan Management Review, you'll learn the necessary steps to take in order to avoid making poor decisions in complex situations.
16m
By MIT Sloan Management Review
Book
MIT Sloan Management Review on Data-driven Decision MakingIn this collection of articles from MIT Sloan Management Review, you'll discover how you decide which data is worth paying attention to and which is just noise and that solving that riddle is the key to better decisions.
40m
By MIT Sloan Management Review
BOOK SUMMARY
Problem Solved: A Powerful System for Making Complex Decisions with Confidence and ConvictionProblem Solved provides you with a consistent decision-making process based on research principles. In this Summary, we discuss the salient points of the book based on our interpretation of its contents.
10m
By Cheryl Strauss Einhorn
BOOK SUMMARY
The Diagrams Book: 50 Ways to Solve any Problem VisuallyThe Diagrams Book provides a comprehensive list of diagrams to consider when outlining a problem to be solved or expressing thoughts and ideas. In this Summary, we discuss the salient points of the book based on our interpretation of its contents.
8m
By Kevin Duncan
BOOK SUMMARY
The Leader's Guide to Lateral Thinking Skills: Powerful Problem-Solving Techniques to Ignite Your Team's PotentialIn The Leader's Guide to Lateral Thinking Skills, author Paul Sloane shows business leaders how to go about creating organizations that are innovative and lateral thinking. In this Summary, we discuss the salient points of the book based on our interpretation of its contents.
10m
By Paul Sloane
BOOK SUMMARY
Secrets of Power Problem SolvingSecrets of Power Problem Solving provides the framework and skills that businesspeople need to create a more effective workspace, free of both money- and people-related problems. In this Summary, we discuss the salient points of the book based on our interpretation of its contents.
9m
By Roger Dawson
Book
Stop Guessing: The 9 Behaviors of Great Problem SolversIllustrated with examples ranging from everyday issues to serious problems, this book will help you understand the behaviors that great problem-solvers use to tackle the hardest problems with skill and panache, regardless of the industry or nature of the problem.
2h 9m
By Nat Greene
Book
What's Your Problem?: Identifying and Solving the Five Types of Process ProblemsOutlining proven approaches for seamlessly integrating Lean and Six Sigma methodologies with learning and teaching process improvement, this accessible book will help to improve your courses so that participants acquire essential skills quicker and at lower costs.
2h 40m
By Kicab Castañeda-Méndez
Book
The Diagrams Books: 50 Ways to Solve any Problem VisuallyIncluding tips and advice on how you can apply them to your own situations, this accessible guide presents fifty of the most useful diagrams that are used by consultants, academics, MBA students, and smart managers globally to assist with problem solving and thinking.
39m
By Kevin Duncan
Book
Creativity and Problem SolvingContaining mind-stimulating exercises and down-to-earth strategies, this concise, career-changing book reveals 21 proven, practical techniques readers can use to immediately begin generating a stream of productive ideas, and will help anyone tap into the root source of their own intuitive genius.
1h 6m
By Brian Tracy
BOOK SUMMARY
151 Quick Ideas for Delegating and Decision Making151 Quick Ideas for Delegating and Decision Making empowers you to navigate the multilevel decision-making landscape and to use delegation to grow a cohesive team geared toward achievement. In this Summary, we discuss the salient points of the book based on our interpretation of its contents.
11m
By Robert E. Dittmer, Stephanie McFarland
BOOK SUMMARY
The Decision Book: 50 Models for Strategic ThinkingThe Decision Book offers an easy-to-understand look at various models that not only simplify the decision-making process, but also help readers to better understand themselves and others. In this Review, we discuss the salient points of the book based on our interpretation of its contents.
6m
By Mikael Krogerus, Roman Tschäppeler
Book
Transforming Leader Paradigms: Evolve from Blanket Solutions to Problem Solving for ComplexityDrawing upon decades of leadership experience and years of research with executives across many different industries, this book is about strengthening every organization's capacity to solve complex business problems.
3h 21m
By James E. Luckman, Olga Flory
Book
Design for Cognitive BiasThis book gives whirlwind tour of the cognitive biases that encroach on our lives and our work, and learn to start designing more consciously.
1h 40m
By David Dylan Thomas
Book
Problem Solved: A Powerful System for Making Complex Decisions with Confidence and ConvictionLife is filled with uncertainty, but that uncertainty needn't hobble us. This thoughtful book offers a proactive way to work with, and work through, ambiguity to make thoughtful, confident decisions despite our uncertain and volatile world.
2h 58m
By Cheryl Strauss Einhorn
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AUDIOBOOKS INCLUDED
AUDIOBOOK SUMMARY
151 Quick Ideas for Delegating and Decision Making151 Quick Ideas for Delegating and Decision Making empowers you to navigate the multilevel decision-making landscape and to use delegation to grow a cohesive team geared toward achievement. In this Summary, we discuss the salient points of the book based on our interpretation of its contents.
23m 17s
By Robert E. Dittmer, Stephanie McFarland
AUDIOBOOK SUMMARY
The Leader's Guide to Lateral Thinking Skills: Powerful Problem-Solving Techniques to Ignite Your Team's PotentialIn The Leader's Guide to Lateral Thinking Skills, author Paul Sloane shows business leaders how to go about creating organizations that are innovative and lateral thinking. In this Summary, we discuss the salient points of the book based on our interpretation of its contents.
22m 21s
By Paul Sloane
Audiobook
The 3rd Alternative: Solving Life's Most Difficult ProblemsThis audio edition introduces a breakthrough approach to conflict resolution and creative problem solving, transcending traditional solutions to conflict by forging a path toward a third option - 3rd Alternative.
16h 39m 51s
By Stephen R. Covey
Audiobook
Cracking Complexity: The Breakthrough Formula for Solving Just About Anything FastThis audio edition shares a proven formula for dramatically solving an organization's toughest challenges in mere days.
7h 14m 54s
By David Benjamin
Audiobook
Problem Solved: A Powerful System for Making Complex Decisions with Confidence and ConvictionThis audio edition will show you how to use the powerful AREA Method to make complex personal and professional decisions with confidence and conviction.
5h 24m 47s
By Cheryl Strauss Einhorn
Audiobook
Creativity & Problem SolvingContaining mind-stimulating exercises and down-to-earth strategies, this audio edition will help anyone tap into the root source of their own intuitive genius. Read by the author.
2h 10m
By Brian Tracy
Audiobook
Business Decision Making: Streamlining the Process for More Effective Results, Second EditionHow do executives make decisions? Are their decisions conscious or unconscious? Can they explain each decision they make? What tools can they use to improve their decision-making process? These are some of the questions this audiobook addresses.
4h 34m 32s
By Milan Frankl
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SKILL BENCHMARKS INCLUDED
Leading the Business
Becoming a successful business leader means more than just directing and motivating your people. It also requires understanding the business you're in and making sure that you're making decisions that will help your company meet its goals. In this Leading the Business Unit Benchmark, you'll be able to make a frank assessment of your current skills in strategic planning and execution, identifying your strengths and recognizing areas of weaknesses that will benefit from further learning and growth. This benchmark evaluates your understanding of this topic. Being aware of potential knowledge gaps allows you to better understand your current competency and areas for improvement, so you can find suitable content and curate your own learning path. The courses recommended at the end of this benchmark can help you fill potential gaps in your knowledge.
7m
| 7 questions
Strategies and Styles for Effective Business Leadership
Effective business leadership requires a range of strategies and styles to succeed. Discover how to lead a customer-centric culture, cultivate empathy, promote diversity, and influence and persuade others. Learn how to drive results, lead for success, and inspire your team to achieve more. This benchmark evaluates your understanding of this topic. Being aware of potential knowledge gaps allows you to better understand your current competency and areas for improvement, so you can find suitable content and curate your own learning path. The courses recommended at the end of this benchmark can help you fill potential gaps in your knowledge.
12m
| 14 questions