Making Successful Business Decisions: Getting It Right the First Time

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this course about? In today's business environment, professionals deal with uncertainties from every angle as pressure to make the right decisions builds. The ability to make critical, high-impact decisions in less time and under less-than-ideal conditions requires clarity, confidence and decisiveness. In this course, you gain knowledge behind the decision-making process and apply tools and techniques to reach well-considered decisions the first time. Other key topics include: Examining the psychology of decision making Handling conflicting opinions to set direction Balancing your skills with qualitative and quantitative techniques Facilitating decisions in groups and teams Creating growth opportunities Adopting decision strategies for complex situations Personalizing your approach to decision making Who will benefit from this course? This course is valuable for anyone in a decision-making capacity who would like to learn how to make and apply successful business decisions, including managers, business analysts, directors, department heads and team leaders. What background do I need? No special background is required for this course. However, you should be responsible for making individual or team decisions that affects the operational performance of your department or organization. How does this course help me personalize my approach to decision making? This course provides you with an increased awareness on the issues surrounding decision making. The tools and techniques discussed will enable you to make the correct decisions in the right circumstances and justify the approaches you have taken. How is this course structured? This course is structured around a dynamic style of learning created by Learning Tree called RealityPlusTM-an immersive experience that engages you in authentic tasks within a simulated real-world context. Through case studies and role playing activities, you are immersed throughout the course in an evolving scenario where the decisions you make affect the outcome of the simulation. The RealityPlus learning method is presented in a safe environment where you gain new skills and practice the most effective techniques to bring back to your job. At the end of your course, you are prepared to immediately and successfully apply these new skills within your organization. How does this course relate to Course 284, Critical Thinking and Creative Problem Solving? Course 284, Critical Thinking and Creative Problem Solving, covers some of the key concepts behind decision making and develops your individual skills as a critical thinker and problem solver. This course complements Course 284 by enabling you to apply the concepts learned to your organization as a whole. You learn tools to enhance your decision-making ability for your organization and gain the skills to confidently make proactive decisions in an environment that operates with limited time and information. How will knowing these tools and techniques help me with the decision-making process? This course provides you with a skill set of critical tools and techniques to analyze and then implement better business decisions. You learn how to leverage qualitative tools to perform probability and impact analyses; adopt quantitative financial analysis to reinforce your decisions; and apply risk response strategies to mitigate or avoid negative risks. How much time is spent on each topic? Content Hours Examining the psychology of decision making 2.5 Negotiating conflicting opinions to set direction 2.5 Balancing your skills with qualitative and quantitative techniques 2.5 Facilitating decisions in groups and teams 2.5 Creating growth opportunities 2.5 Adapting decision strategies for complex situations 2.5 Personalizing your approach to decision making 2.0 Times, including the workshops, are estimates; exact times may vary according to the needs of each class. How much of this course is hands-on? Over 50 percent of course time is spent in immersive activities. Immersive activities include: Analyzing probability and the impact of real life scenarios Implementing key business drivers meeting the needs of the stakeholder(s) Reframing issues for decision-making effectiveness Clarifying opinions within groups and teams Leveraging integrative thinking within group meetings Facilitating team decision making in simulated case studies Applying qualitative and quantitative analysis tools Creating solutions for key business initiatives Convincing managers to implement critical decisions Designing metrics to monitor and track success ratios How does this course relate to other Learning Tree courses? This course applies to many of the management skills courses in which effective decision making is often a requirement. The following courses particularly complement the knowledge gained in this course: 290, Management Skills  296, Project Management: Skills for Success  906, Management Skills for an IT Environment  211, Introduction to Business Analysis: Defining Successful Projects  284, Critical Thinking and Creative Problem Solving  Other courses of interest include: 297, Personal Skills for Professional Excellence  294, Influence Skills: Getting Results Without Direct Authority  905, Facilitation Skills

RealityPlus is a trademark of Learning Tree International.