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Critical Thinking Cornell Certificate Program

Overview and courses.

Have you ever known a very intelligent person who made a very bad decision?

Critical problem solving is both a discipline and a skill; one that even very smart people can benefit from learning. Careful thought around decisions can help your teams and organizations thrive. And in today’s age of automation, it’s never been a more essential mindset to develop at every level of a company.

In this certificate program, you will practice a disciplined, systematic approach to problem solving. You will learn how to deeply analyze a problem, assess possible solutions and associated risks, and hone your strategic decision-making skills by following a methodology based on tested actions and sound approaches. Whether you’re interested in preparing for a management role or already lead an execution function, you’ll come away better equipped to confidently tackle any decision large or small, make a compelling business case, and apply influence in your organization in a way that creates the optimal conditions for success.

The courses in this certificate program are required to be completed in the order that they appear.

This program includes a year of free access to Symposium! These events feature several days of live, highly participatory virtual Zoom sessions with Cornell faculty and experts to explore the most pressing leadership topics. Symposium events are held several times throughout the year. Once enrolled in your program, you will receive information about upcoming events.

Throughout the year, you may participate in as many sessions as you wish. Attending Symposium sessions is not required to successfully complete the certificate program.

Course list

Problem-solving using evidence and critical thinking.

Have you ever known a very intelligent person who made a very bad decision? If so, you know that having a high IQ does not guarantee that you automatically make critically thoughtful decisions. Critically thoughtful problem-solving is a discipline and a skill—one that allows you to make decisions that are the product of careful thought, and the results of those decisions help your team and organization thrive.

In this course you will practice a disciplined, systematic approach to problem solving that helps ensure that your analysis of a problem is comprehensive, is based on quality, credible evidence, and takes full and fair account of the most probable counterarguments and risks. The result of this technique is a thoroughly defensible assessment of what the problem is, what is causing it, and the most effective plan of action to address it. Finally, you will identify and frame a problem by assessing its context and develop a well-reasoned and implementable solution that addresses the underlying causes.

Making a Convincing Case for Your Solution

When trying to persuade someone, the tendency is to begin in advocacy mode—for example: “Here's something I want you to agree to.” Most people do not react positively to the feeling of being sold something. The usual reaction is to literally or figuratively start backing up. To make a convincing case, it is more effective to engage with the decision maker as a partner in problem-solving. This makes your counterpart feel less like someone is trying to get them to buy something and more like you are working together to bring about an outcome that is desirable to both parties. Begin by asking yourself: “What is the problem you and the decision maker are solving together?”

By the end of this course, you will have learned how to deeply analyze a problem, possible solutions, and the associated risks as well as the most persuasive and efficient ways of presenting your proposal.

You are required to have completed the following course or have equivalent experience before taking this course:

  • Solve Problems Using Evidence and Critical Thinking

Strategic Decision Making

The ability to make effective and timely decisions is an essential skill for successful executives. Mastery of this skill influences all aspects of day-to-day operations as well as strategic planning. In this course, developed by Professor Robert Bloomfield, Ph.D. of Cornell University's Johnson Graduate School of Management, you will hone your decision-making skills by following a methodology based on tested actions and sound organizational approaches. You will leave this course better equipped to confidently tackle any decision large or small, and you'll do so in a way that creates the optimal conditions for success.

Navigating Power Relationships

Leaders at every level need to be able to execute on their ideas. In virtually every case, this means that leaders need to be able to persuade others to join in this execution. In order to do so, understanding how to create and utilize power in an organization is critical.

In this course, developed by Professor Glen Dowell, Ph.D., of Cornell University's Johnson Graduate School of Management, students will focus on their personal relationship with power as well as how power works in their organization and social network.

Project Management Institute (PMI ® ) Continuing Certification : Participants who successfully complete this course will receive 6 Professional Development Units (PDUs) from PMI ® . Please contact PMI ® for details about professional project management certification or recertification.

Interpreting the Behavior of Others

Applying strategic influence.

Being able to influence others is the most fundamental characteristic of an effective leader, but many people in positions of power don't know specifically how they are influencing others' behavior in positive directions. They let it happen by chance or use their formal authority—getting people to do things because “the boss said so.” But as leaders gets promoted within their organization, using formal authority becomes less effective as they not only need to influence subordinates, but also peers, external stakeholders, and superiors.  In this course, Professor Filipowicz explores the three complementary levels of influence. First, you will explore heuristics, or rules of thumb, that people use in order to make decisions. Next, you will learn how to influence through reciprocity by uncovering what the person you want to influence wants and needs. Lastly, you will learn how to alter the social and physical environment in order to get the change in behavior you want. By the end of this course, you'll have the skills to consistently draw out the desired behaviors from your team and from those around you. 

Leadership Symposium   LIVE

Symposium sessions feature three days of live, highly interactive virtual Zoom sessions that will explore today’s most pressing topics. The Leadership Symposium offers you a unique opportunity to engage in real-time conversations with peers and experts from the Cornell community and beyond. Using the context of your own experiences, you will take part in reflections and small-group discussions to build on the skills and knowledge you have gained from your courses.

Join us for the next Symposium in which we’ll discuss the ways that leaders across industries have continued engaging their teams over the past two years while pivoting in strategic ways. You will support your coursework by applying your knowledge and experiences to relevant topics for leaders. Throughout this Symposium, you will examine different areas of leadership, including innovation, strategy, and engagement. By participating in relevant and engaging discussions, you will discover a variety of perspectives and build connections with your fellow participants from various industries.

Upcoming Symposium: June 11-13, 2024 from 11am – 1pm ET

All sessions are held on Zoom.

Future dates are subject to change. You may participate in as many sessions as you wish. Attending Symposium sessions is not required to successfully complete any certificate program. Once enrolled in your courses, you will receive information about upcoming events. Accessibility accommodations will be available upon request.

How It Works

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Faculty Authors

Risa Mish

  • Certificates Authored

Risa Mish is professor of practice of management at the Johnson Graduate School of Management. She designed and teaches the MBA Core course in Critical and Strategic Thinking, in addition to teaching courses in leadership and serving as faculty co-director of the Johnson Leadership Fellows program.

She has been the recipient of the MBA Core Faculty Teaching Award, selected by the residential program MBA class to honor the teacher who “best fosters learning through lecture, discussion and course work in the required core curriculum”; the Apple Award for Teaching Excellence, selected by the MBA graduating classes to honor a faculty member who “exemplifies outstanding leadership and enduring educational influence”; the “Best Teacher Award”, selected by the graduating class of the Cornell-Tsinghua dual degree MBA/FMBA program offered by Johnson at Cornell and the PBC School of Finance at Tsinghua University; the Stephen Russell Distinguished Teaching Award, selected by the five-year MBA reunion class to honor a faculty member whose “teaching and example have continued to influence graduates five years into their post-MBA careers”; and the Globe Award for Teaching Excellence, selected by the Executive MBA graduating class to honor a faculty member who “demonstrates a command of subject matter and also possesses the creativity, dedication, and enthusiasm essential to meet the unique challenges of an EMBA education.”

Mish serves as a keynote speaker and workshop leader at global, national, and regional conferences for corporations and trade associations in the consumer products, financial services, health care, high tech, media, and manufacturing industries, on a variety of topics, including critical thinking and problem solving, persuasion and influence, and motivating optimal employee performance. Before returning to Cornell, Mish was a partner in the New York City law firm of Collazo Carling & Mish LLP (now Collazo Florentino & Keil LLP), where she represented management clients on a wide range of labor and employment law matters, including defense of employment discrimination claims in federal and state courts and administrative agencies, and in labor arbitrations and negotiations under collective bargaining agreements. Prior to CC&M, Mish was a labor and employment law associate with Simpson Thacher & Bartlett in New York City, where she represented Fortune 500 clients in the financial services, consumer products, and manufacturing industries. She is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court and state and federal courts in New York and Massachusetts.

Mish is a member of the board of directors of SmithBucklin Corporation, the world’s largest trade association management company, headquartered in Chicago and TheraCare Corporation, headquartered in New York City. She formerly served as a Trustee of the Tompkins County Public Library, Vice Chair of the board of directors of the Community Foundation of Tompkins County, and member of the board of directors of the United Way of Tompkins County.

  • Omnichannel Leadership Program
  • Corporate Communication
  • Intrapreneurship
  • Management 360

Critical Thinking

  • Performance Leadership
  • Executive Leadership
  • Change Management

Glen W.S. Dowell

Glen Dowell is an Associate Professor of Management and Organizations at the Johnson Graduate School of Management, Cornell University. He researches in the area of corporate sustainability, with a focus on firm environmental performance. Recent projects have investigated the effect of local demographic factors on changes in pollution levels, the role of corporate merger and acquisition in facilitating changes in facility environmental performance, and the relative influence of financial return and disruption on the commercial adoption of energy savings initiatives.

Professor Dowell’s research has been published in Management Science, Organization Studies, Advances in Strategic Management, Strategic Management Journal, Organization Science, Journal of Management, Industrial and Corporate Change, Journal of Business Ethics, and Administrative Science Quarterly. He is senior editor at Organization Science and co-editor of Strategic Organization, is on the editorial boards of Strategic Management Journal and Administrative Science Quarterly, and represents Cornell on the board of the Alliance for Research in Corporate Sustainability (ARCS). He is also the Division Chair for the Organizations and Natural Environment Division of the Academy of Management.

Professor Dowell teaches Sustainable Global Enterprise and Critical and Strategic Thinking. He is a faculty affiliate for the Center for Sustainable Global Enterprise and a faculty fellow at the Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future.

  • Sustainable Business
  • Hotel Management and Owner Relations
  • Strategic Healthcare Leadership
  • Executive Healthcare Leadership

Robert Bloomfield

Since coming to the Johnson Graduate School of Management in 1991, Robert J. Bloomfield has used laboratory experiments to study financial markets and investor behavior. He has also published in all major business disciplines, including finance, accounting, marketing, organizational behavior, and operations research. Professor Bloomfield served as director of the Financial Accounting Standards Research Initiative (FASRI), an activity of the Financial Accounting Standards Board, and is an editor of a special issue of Journal of Accounting Research dedicated to Registered Reports of empirical research. Professor Bloomfield has recently taken on editorship of Journal of Financial Reporting, which is pioneering an innovative editorial process intended to broaden the range of research methods used in accounting, improve the quality of research execution, and encourage the honest reporting of findings.

  • Management Accounting for Leaders
  • Management Accounting

Allan Filipowicz

Allan Filipowicz is clinical professor of management and organizations at the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University. Professor Filipowicz’s research focuses on how emotions drive or impede leadership effectiveness, at both the intrapersonal and interpersonal levels. Within this domain, he studies the relationship between emotions and risky decision making; the influence of humor on both leadership and negotiation effectiveness; the impact of emotional transitions in negotiations; and the relationship between genes, chronotype (morningness–eveningness) and performance. His work has been published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Journal of Behavioral Decision Making, Journal of Operations Management, International Journal of Forecasting, Creativity Research Journal, Journal of Circadian Rhythms, and Scientific Reports.

Professor Filipowicz teaches Managing and Leading Organizations (recently winning a Best Core Faculty Award), Negotiations, Executive Leadership and Development, Leading Teams, and Critical and Strategic Thinking. He has taught executives across the globe, from Singapore to Europe to the US, with recent clients including Medtronic, Bayer, Google, Pernod Ricard, and Harley-Davidson. Professor Filipowicz received his PhD from Harvard University. He holds an MBA from The Wharton School, an MA in International Affairs from the University of Pennsylvania, and degrees in electrical engineering (MEng, BS) and economics (BA) from Cornell University. His professional experience includes banking (Bankers Trust, New York) and consulting, including running his own boutique consulting firm and four years with The Boston Consulting Group in Paris.

  • Adaptive Healthcare Strategy
  • Negotiation Mastery
  • Psychology of Leadership

Key Course Takeaways

  • Respond decisively and consistently when faced with situations that require a decision
  • Assess the context of the problem
  • Summarize your analysis of the problem
  • Analyze potential solutions from multiple perspectives
  • Build a compelling business case for your solution
  • Improve your ability to exercise influence in your organization and activate your network to achieve goals
  • Establish responsibilities and accountabilities to ensure effective follow-through on decisions made

strategic problem solving course

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strategic problem solving course

What You'll Earn

  • Critical Thinking Certificate from Cornell Johnson Graduate School of Management
  • 60 Professional Development Hours (6 CEUs)
  • 38 Professional Development Units (PDUs) toward PMI recertification
  • 30 Professional Development Credits (PDCs) toward SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP recertification
  • 30 Credit hours towards HRCI recertification

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Who should enroll.

  • C-level executives, VPs, managers
  • Industry leaders with 2-10+ years experience
  • Mid-level professionals looking to move into leadership roles
  • Engineers and designers leading projects
  • Consultants or analysts
  • Anyone whose work involves devising, proposing, and defending evidence-based solutions

strategic problem solving course

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strategic problem solving course

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Strategic Leadership

All Start Dates

8:30 AM – 4:30 PM ET

3 consecutive days

Registration Deadline

March 17, 2024

August 18, 2024

December 1, 2024

Enhance your ability to creatively problem-solve for the demands of working in ‘the new normal'.

What you'll learn.

Senior leaders face an unprecedented number of challenges in today’s rapidly-changing business environment, from an evolving workforce to complex strategic issues. To succeed in this dynamic business environment, strategic leadership involves asking better questions, leveraging a diverse workforce, and addressing the complex problems our organizations face in new ways.

During this interactive 3-day program, you will build upon your proven leadership skills with new insights, frameworks and tools to inspire yourself and better lead your team and organization. Reflective exercises, a leadership assessment instrument (Hogan), application activities, and case studies will help you work through modern-day dilemmas and solve problems using both critical and creative thinking. Small and large group discussions will focus on addressing the paradoxes of effective leadership at the executive level.

Program Benefits

  • Examine what in organizational leadership is evolving — and what is remaining the same — and develop insight into how to address new and emerging senior leadership challenges
  • Understand the multipliers and diminishers of effective leadership, and how to evolve as senior leaders
  • Build and sustain greater levels of motivation and trust through more strategic leadership
  • Earn a Certificate of Participation from the Harvard Division of Continuing Education

Topics Covered

  • Leadership in today’s business world: what’s similar, what’s different, and why the stakes are higher
  • Inspiring and motivating a diverse talent team
  • Solving complex problems using both critical and creative thinking
  • Managing modern-day dilemmas
  • Addressing the tradeoffs, tensions, and dilemmas we face as senior leaders
  • Future-proofing our organizations and ourselves

Who Should Enroll

This program is intended for senior managers with at least 10 years of management experience and proven leadership skills who want to enhance their capabilities to lead at higher levels in the organization.

Considering this program?

strategic problem solving course

Send yourself the details.

Related Programs

  • Emotional Intelligence in Leadership Training Program
  • Agile Leadership: Transforming Mindsets and Capabilities in Your Organization
  • Executive Leadership Coaching: Mastery Session

March Schedule

  • The New World of Work and Leading In the ‘New Normal’
  • Strategic Self-Leadership – Part I
  • Strategic Self-Leadership – Part II
  • Strategic People and Organizational Leadership
  • Strategic Problem-Solving
  • Strategic Leadership for the Future – Ourselves, Others, Organizations

August Schedule

December schedule, margaret andrews, certificates of leadership excellence.

The Certificates of Leadership Excellence (CLE) are designed for leaders with the desire to enhance their business acumen, challenge current thinking, and expand their leadership skills.

This program is one of several CLE qualifying programs. Register today and get started earning your certificate.

Harvard Division of Continuing Education

The Division of Continuing Education (DCE) at Harvard University is dedicated to bringing rigorous academics and innovative teaching capabilities to those seeking to improve their lives through education. We make Harvard education accessible to lifelong learners from high school to retirement.

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Strategy, Structured Thinking, and Problem Solving Course

In this course, you will work through a real-world strategy consulting case project end-to-end. Not only will you learn closely-guarded strategy skills and frameworks, but you’ll also learn how to apply them in the real world.

Learn a strategy consulting toolkit that is guaranteed to accelerate your career

Strategy consulting has been called “the most effective generator of top-tier corporate talent in the world.”

Throughout their careers, consultants are taught a super effective skillset that covers strategy, structured thinking, and problem solving.

It’s this skillset that differentiates strategy consultants, defines them as high performers, and gives them access to the best corporate roles.

And now you can learn this skillset too.

By the end of the course, you’ll be able to:

Learn strategy and structured thinking skills, just like at McKinsey, BCG and Bain

Never again will you look at a problem and think “where do I even start!?”

In this course, you’ll learn the same strategic thinking and problem solving techniques used top-tier strategy consulting firms, such as McKinsey, BCG, and Bain.

You’ll learn a powerful and repeatable methodology that you can use to break down and solve any business problem.

This includes how to:

  • Turn an ambiguous request from your manager into a clearly defined problem statement.
  • Use issue trees and hypothesis trees to break down any business problem into a comprehensive list of hypotheses.
  • Validate your problem breakdown using the MECE Principle.
  • Prioritize and test each hypothesis to identify the root cause and/or optimal solution.
  • Use the Pyramid Principle to synthesize the output of your analysis and uncover insights.
  • Create an SCR/SCQA storyline to communicate your insights to executives in a clear and persuasive manner.

By the end of the course, you will have a repeatable methodology that you can use to break down and solve business and strategy problems. You'll feel confident solving any problem, no matter how complex or ambiguous.

A screenshot of a lesson from the course

What's covered in the course?

In the course, you’ll get:

  • An end-to-end strategy methodology that’s used by top-tier strategy consulting firms, such as McKinsey, BCG, and Bain.
  • 30 comprehensive lessons with over 2 hours of content, with lifetime access so you can revisit at any time.
  • 4 framework deep-dives , including the issue/hypothesis trees, the MECE Principle, the Pyramid Principle, the SCQA/SCR structure, and more.
  • 5 practical assignments with worked solutions to learn how to apply course concepts in the real-world
  • 4 additional worked examples of important skills, such as how to deconstruct problem statements using the MECE principle and issue trees

strategic problem solving course

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

  • Translate a vague request from a client or manager into a well-defined problem statement
  • Scope up a strategy project and align with key stakeholders
  • Use a Problem Statement Worksheet as your ‘source of truth’ for your project

strategic problem solving course

  • Use the MECE Principle to synthesize complex data into a simple set of concepts
  • Use the MECE Principle to break down complex concepts into constituent parts
  • Master the 5 ways to guarantee MECE-ness

strategic problem solving course

  • Break down any problem statement into a list of comprehensive hypotheses
  • Ensure that you capture all potential root causes and/or solutions to the problem statement

strategic problem solving course

  • Prioritize a list of hypothesis to identify which are most likely to solve the business problem
  • Workplan the analysis to ensure that you can confidently prove or disprove each hypothesis

strategic problem solving course

  • Understand to apply the Pyramid Principle in your projects
  • Use the LGIA method to turn raw analysis into actionable insights

strategic problem solving course

  • Craft an SCR / SCQA storyline using the dot-dash structure
  • Position your storyline based on the business context
  • Reconstruct your storyline in PowerPoint

Look over my shoulder as I explain and solve real examples live on video...

strategic problem solving course

...and work through an end-to-end case study with real data, assignments and solutions

strategic problem solving course

We’ll work through a real-world consulting case study end-to-end...

This is the case study that you’ll work through and solve:

“GroceryMart is a regional supermarket chain that has experienced a sudden 6.5% decline in profitability and 3.5% drop in market share.

They have hired you to determine the cause of the profitability decline.”

...and complete assignments with real data and worked solutions

  • 6 additional worked examples of important skills, such as how to deconstruct problem statements using the MECE principle and issue trees

The course is unlike anything you've ever studied – see what previous students say...

The strategy, structured thinking, and problem solving course.

  • Over 2 hours of course content spread over 30 action-packed modules
  • 9 practical assignments and worked examples to apply concepts in the real-world
  • 4 framework deep dives, including the issue/hypothesis trees, the MECE Principle, the Pyramid Principle, the SCQA/SCR structure, and more.
  • Unlimited lifetime access to all content and any updates

strategic problem solving course

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Strategic Problem Solving

Problem solving is a sought after skill, yet the concept can be quite nebulous. What does it mean to be a good problem solver? How does one hone this skill? This program will give you a tangible process to improve your problem-solving skills.

Become a better problem solver

Growing a business can present it's share of challenges and problems. Some can be handled can be easily while others can be more complex and cause us stress.   Problem solving and critical thinking are consistently at the top of the list of desired skills that employers believe are lacking for employees. Advance your problem solving skills to rise to the top as you take the next step in your career.   

This training lays out a three-step problem‐solving methodology that you can apply to a diverse array of problems. You will have the opportunity to learn new models, practice them, and access tools that you can take with you to apply to your personal and professional life.. 

You will be asked to bring a current problem you are facing to work on with your workshop colleagues, so you can get a head start on your problem solving path! 

This program will cover: 

  • Situational goal analysis 
  • Scenario mapping 
  • Solution implementation 
  • Future problem avoidance 

Who should attend

Anyone interested in improving their strategic problem solving skills

Instructors

Head shot of Ann Rupnow

Ann Rupnow directs and teaches in the entrepreneur program at the University of Wisconsin‐Eau Claire. She is passionate about the need for innovation and problem solving – within startups and existing organizations. She was a founding organizer of 1 Million Cups Eau Claire, Startup 48, and co‐led the founding of WiSys VentureHome‐Eau Claire. Ann has worked in several industries including supercomputing, electronics manufacturing, managed health care, and higher education. She has developed and led technical training and leadership development programs, led change management and organizational development efforts, and co‐led a campus planning effort around equity, diversity and inclusivity. Ann received her MBA from UW‐Eau Claire in 2009. She is an Advisor of Great North Labs Venture Fund (St. Cloud, MN), is on the Advisory Board of the Women’s Business Center (Eau Claire, WI), and is past president of the Board of Directors of Clear Vision Eau Claire. 

There are currently no upcoming dates for this program. To make sure you are notified when dates are scheduled, please join our mailing list.

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strategic problem solving course

Strategic Problem Solving Masterclass

Engage the wisdom of history’s greatest strategists to better understand and solve problems while leveraging your resources. , course overview.

  • Learning Format: Self-Paced

Individuals looking to upgrade their business skills

Individuals looking to advance and get ahead in their career, individuals who make business and/or customer decisions, business owners, executives, and managers, team leaders.

strategic problem solving course

Learning Outcomes

Apply the principles of strategic problem solving., develop your mindset to see problems as opportunities., develop a strategic framework to work through challenges., meet your c oa ch: ashton bishop, the program will benefit you by.

  • Taking a fresh look at the foundations of great strategy
  • Finding new solutions for recurring problems
  • Solving challenges with creativity and speed
  • Drawing wisdom from History’s Greatest Strategists

strategic problem solving course

Some Of Our Clients Who Have Benefitted

Attended a fantastic session run by ashton bishop which was engaging and highly valuable. grounded in practical examples with a clear focus on real-world implementation. highly recommend., engaging instructors, interesting ideas and fun activities are just a few things i loved about step change.  i would highly recommend them, step change team gave me confidence in dealing with the uncertain times facing our industry in the future. their vibrancy and enthusiasm made the learning fun and exciting..

strategic problem solving course

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INSTRUCTOR-LED COURSE

Critical and Strategic Problem Solving

Take your organization to its next level of excellence

  • Proactively apply critical thinking techniques.
  • Practice adjusting thoughts, opinions and beliefs to find new perspectives.
  • Engage in discussions to better understand their peers’ perceptions and beliefs.
  • Understand the impact of diversity and inclusion in problem solving.
  • Gain essential skills for creatively assembling and assessing solutions.

Course Outline

Interested in bringing this course to your organization? Let’s connect!

This course introduces innovative techniques to think about and approach problems and challenges in order to realize hidden value and new opportunities. This training addresses the skills, attitudes, traits and behaviors needed to critically evaluate problems, find new answers, uncover new opportunities and make better decisions.

The tools contained in this training are intended to engage participants in expansive thinking, challenge their current views and deliver applicable techniques that they can employ to develop their critical thinking skills. 

COURSE OUTLINE

Module 1: the essentials characteristics of critical thinking.

Consider the common characteristics of critical thinkers and how to apply them to daily tasks and thought processes.

  • Discuss the role of curiosity in critical thinking
  • Recognize the difference between thinking and knowing
  • Identify how assumptions, evidence and conclusions can be used to challenge current processes

Module 2: How to Challenge Conventional Thinking

The tools and techniques in this module will start conversations that lead to out-of-the-box thinking. 

  • Discuss questions and statements that could help to propel an inquisitive discussion with a peer
  • Identify the impact of assumptions, evidence and solutions on critical thinking
  • Recognize the attributes of conventional thinkers and the critical thinkers

Module 3: Differentiating Opinions, Perceptions and Beliefs

The discussions in this module encourage thinking outside of personal bias and challenging opinions, perceptions and beliefs.

  • Discuss the role of autonomy in critical thinking
  • Identify the characteristics of a critical thinker
  • Seek advice from others to adjust your perspective on a challenge

Module 4: The Impact of Engagement on Diversity and Inclusion

Gather the research that supports the importance of engagement, diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

  • Identify the unique qualities of diverse individuals in a group setting
  • Discuss the link between inclusion and engagement
  • Compile a list of skills and individuals that you can begin to include in your projects at work

Module 5: An Insightful Approach to Problem Solving

Follow a three-part process in approaching a problem  in order to gain an opportunistic outlook and broaden  your perspective.

  • Recognize how personal values and attitudes impact problem solving and decision making
  • Identify a process for analyzing problems and discovering the underlying opportunities
  • Define the role of questioning in problem solving

Module 6: Strategically Assembling and Assessing Solutions

Gain creative techniques to include in your next brainstorming session and learn how to create a  visual map to communicate and organize a variety of potential solutions.

  • Discuss questions that need to be asked to identify root causes
  • Identify possible solutions using brainstorming techniques
  • Write solutions down using mind mapping tools

Module 7: Thinking Beyond Today

While openness is the central value of critical thinkers, seeing the big picture is consistent among all strategic thinkers.

  • Recognize the skill set of strategic thinkers
  • Discuss the importance of developing a big-picture perspective
  • Discuss the role of mistakes in strategic thinking

Module 8: Making Strategic Decisions

Strategic thinkers are able to look at possibilities in relation to the organization as a whole and gain the buy-in they need to make informed, supported decisions.

  • Recognize your own tendencies for fact-based decision making
  • Discuss a method for evaluating and prioritizing solutions to make a decision
  • Identify a process for gaining team consensus and making a decision

Module 9: Applying Strategic Thinking Tools

The exercises and discussions in this module will  unleash creative ideas for overcoming barriers to  innovative breakthroughs.

  • Discuss strategies for releasing a flow of original ideas
  • Recognize how to overcome barriers to strategic thinking
  • Identify exercises for breaking free of thinking ruts

This content can be delivered in a variety of modalities. Click here to learn more .

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4 Ways to Develop Your Strategic Thinking Skills

Business professionals using strategic thinking skills

  • 10 Sep 2020

Think back to the last time you participated in a strategic planning meeting for your organization. You were likely presented with a challenge to solve or goal to achieve.

Do you remember your contributions during that meeting? Did you offer compelling ideas and plot a course of action, or find it difficult to think strategically and develop a solution? Did you have a good idea, but struggle to communicate it in a logical way? Were you an active participant in the conversation, or did others helm it?

Strategic thinking skills are among the most highly sought-after management competencies. Why? Because employees capable of thinking critically, logically, and strategically can have a tremendous impact on a business’s trajectory.

If you want to improve your strategic thinking skills, the good news is that, with the right mindset and practice, you can.

Here are four ways to improve your strategy skills , so the next time you’re involved in a strategic planning meeting, you can ensure your contributions are noticed.

Access your free e-book today.

What Are Strategic Thinking Skills?

Strategic thinking skills are any skills that enable you to use critical thinking to solve complex problems and plan for the future. These skills are essential to accomplish business objectives, overcome obstacles, and address challenges—particularly if they’re projected to take weeks, months, or even years to achieve.

Strategic thinking skills include:

  • Analytical skills: To ideate a strategy that helps your organization reach its objectives, you must be capable of analyzing a variety of inputs—from financial statements and KPIs , to market conditions, emerging business trends, and internal resource allocation. This initial analysis is crucial to creating a strategy that aligns with the current reality facing your organization.
  • Communication skills: Putting a strategy into place for your company, regardless of its size, requires solid communication skills . The ability to communicate complex ideas, collaborate with internal and external stakeholders, build consensus, and ensure everyone is aligned and working toward shared goals are all central to strategic thinking.
  • Problem-solving skills: Strategic planning is often used to solve problems or address challenges, such as missed financial targets, inefficient workflows, or an emerging competitor. Implementing a strategy that addresses the central challenge you face requires you to first understand the problem and its potential solutions. From there, you can craft a strategy that solves it.
  • Planning and management skills: Strategy isn’t just about thinking of a solution—it involves implementation, too. Once data has been analyzed, the problem is understood, and a solution has been identified, you need strong planning and management skills to bring everything together.

How to Improve Your Strategic Thinking Skills

1. ask strategic questions.

If you want to improve your strategic thinking skills, one of the simplest things you can do is ask more strategic questions. Doing so allows you to exercise your planning skills, become adept at spotting opportunities, and develop a more strategic mindset you can leverage throughout your career.

According to the Harvard Business School Online course Disruptive Strategy , strategic questions can relate to a challenge, opportunity, or ambiguity you face in your current situation, whether personal or professional. They might, for instance, relate to launching a new business or product, beating a competitor, or structuring your organization for innovation.

It’s also important that your questions apply to your role and responsibilities so you can act on them.

Some examples of strategic questions you might ask include:

  • How can we strategically position ourselves to enter a new market?
  • What’s the direction for growth for each of our products or services?
  • Where will the organization's growth come from in the next five years, and how does it compare with where growth has historically come from?
  • How should the organization respond to the threat presented by potentially disruptive competitors ?

2. Observe and Reflect

In addition to asking strategic questions, you need to answer and address them skillfully. One of the most effective ways of accomplishing this is to observe and reflect on your current situation, ensuring any strategy you conceive is grounded in facts.

For example, imagine that the business you work for has begun losing market share for one of its products among its traditional customers. At the same time, it’s gained market share from an entirely new customer base. It’s easy to assume why this might be happening, but doing so can lead you down the wrong path at a critical moment in your organization’s existence.

Instead of blindly following an assumption, gather as much information as possible to use when crafting your strategy. For example, this might include conducting user interviews with new customers to identify the different jobs they hire your product to perform.

Understanding why new customers are attracted to your product can enable you to tailor your marketing strategy and product development to better embrace their needs .

3. Consider Opposing Ideas

Once you’ve landed on a strategy that can help your organization reach its goals, question your assumptions, and put your hypothesis through rigorous testing. By doing so, you can ensure you’re not overlooking another possibility.

Playing devil’s advocate with your ideas can allow you to preemptively identify weaknesses in your argument, and equip you to defend your strategy when others ask questions. It can also help you sharpen the logic skills you need to communicate and execute your strategy.

To develop this skill, get in the habit of questioning yourself any time you’re about to make an assertion. Should you consider a different perspective? Is there another possibility you may have overlooked?

4. Embrace Formal Training

By practicing the methods described above, you can improve your strategic thinking skills at your own pace. However, there are other learning options you can pursue.

If you need to quickly ramp up your strategy skills—to address a pressing need your organization is facing, position yourself for a new role, or finally launch your own business—formal training might be your best option.

For example, by enrolling in the online course Disruptive Strategy , you can discover how to make innovation a reality for your organization. Over six weeks, you’ll learn about the jobs to be done framework and disruptive innovation theory, and build skills to identify and execute high-level strategy.

Which HBS Online Strategy Course is Right for You? | Download Your Free Flowchart

Cultivating a Strategic Mindset

Whether in the long- or short-term, a strategic mindset can be developed through self-exploration, critical questioning, and formal training.

The advantage of having a strategic mindset is learning how to think rather than what to think. Although you might not always have the right answers, strategic thinking skills can empower you to spot new opportunities, address emerging challenges, and plan for future success.

Are you looking to develop a strategic mindset? Explore our portfolio of online strategy courses and download the free flowchart to determine which is the best fit for you and your goals.

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How to Demonstrate Your Strategic Thinking Skills

  • Nina A. Bowman

strategic problem solving course

Don’t be shy about bringing your ideas to the table.

Developing your strategic thinking skills isn’t enough to get you promoted. In order to advance in your career, you need to demonstrate them. Leaders want to know what you think, and they view your worthiness for promotion through the lens of how ready you are to make bigger decisions. Ask yourself: “Do people know where I stand?” If not, what do you need to do to bring your perspective to the table? It’s also important to demonstrate that you can put new ideas into action. Take the initiative on new projects that show how your understanding extends beyond your current function.

We all know that developing strategic thinking skills is important , but many don’t realize how critical it is to your career advancement to show these skills to your boss and other senior leaders. Showing strategic thinking skills tells your bosses that you’re able to think for yourself and make decisions that position the organization for the future. It assures them that you aren’t making decisions in a vacuum but are considering how other departments might be affected or how the outside world will respond.

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  • NB Nina A. Bowman is a Managing Partner at Paravis Partners, an executive coaching and leadership development firm. Previously, she held various advisory and leadership roles in strategy. She is an executive coach and speaker on issues of strategic leadership, leadership presence, and interpersonal effectiveness. She is also a contributing author to the HBR Guide to Coaching Employees and HBR Guide to Thinking Strategically .

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Strategic Problem Solving

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  • How does it work ?
  • When can I do it ?

strategic problem solving course

Effort 6 weeks

strategic problem solving course

Elevate your strategic thinking and drive success with approaches for effective problem solving while building a deeper understanding of your organisation’s strategy and your role within it.

Our Strategic Problem Solving course will help you to build the critical thinking and problem-solving skills that will enable you to engage at a strategic level. Over 6 weeks you will practice identifying problems and synthesizing issue trees. You will use recognised strategic frameworks to complete analysis and develop solutions. Throughout the course you will build your capabilities in problem definition, communications and strategic analysis.

Recognition -

After completing an RMIT Future Skills course, you will earn an RMIT credential which can be validated, recognised and shared on social media platforms.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:

• Describe your role within the context of an organisational strategy.

• Appraise an organisation’s strategy against recognised frameworks.

• Develop a problem statement and break it down into a prioritised issues tree for an organisational issue.

• Provide recommendations and associated rationale in response to the problem statement.

How does it work ? -

Real world skills through a tangible project

Gain valuable, current experience evaluating a real world problem in your organisation, identifying critical issues, and articulating your recommendations in a final presentation.

  • You'll use the same framework as leading strategic thinkers to develop and justify your approach, so you can be confident in presenting actionable initiatives with key stakeholders.

When can I do it ? -

  • Starts: 13 May 2024
  • Starts: 12 Aug 2024
  • Starts: 4 Nov 2024

Strategic Problem Solving

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