Workshop on Problem Solving Techniques - 06 April 2019

This workshop teaches you about useful tools that will help you solve complicated business problems. By using these techniques, you can start to tackle problems that might otherwise seem huge, overwhelming, and excessively complex. As such, these tools give you a starting point in solving problems that would leave other people feeling helpless, and intimidated by the situation. The workshop starts with some simple complexity skills. It then moves on to look at more powerful, 'industrial strength" techniques like use of Flow Charts, SWOT Analysis and Risk Analysis.

Scope & Objectives: At the end of this module you will learn how to use and apply several powerful business strategy tools: Porter's Five Forces, PEST Analysis, the Boston Matrix, the McKinsey 7S Framework and USP Analysis. It will cover the following topics.

1. Introduction to Problem Solving
2. Appreciation - Extracting maximum information from facts
3. 5 Whys - Getting quickly to the root of a problem
4. Cause & Effect Diagrams - Identifying the causes of problems
5. Affinity Diagrams - Organizing ideas into common themes
6. Appreciative Inquiry - Solving problems by looking at what's going right
7. Flow Charts - Understanding process flows
8. Risk Analysis - Managing the risks you face
9. SWOT - Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities & threats
10. PEST Analysis - Understanding the big picture
11. The Marketing Mix and the 4 Ps
12. The Ansoff Matrix - Understanding the different risks of different options
13. The Boston Matrix - Focusing effort to give the greatest returns
14. Porter's Five Forces - Understanding power in a situation
15. Core Competence Analysis - Get ahead. Stay ahead.
16. USP/Unique Selling Proposition Analysis - Crafting your competitive edge
17. Critical Success Factors (CSFs) - Identifying the things that really matter
18. The McKinsey 7S Framework
19. Using the Greiner Curve - Surviving the crises that come with growth