Testimonials

For the most part – we don’t typically use any sort of Problem Solving Methodology – unless you call ‘jumping in with both feet’ a methodology. We’re stumped by the simplest problems – even problems with only a handful of possible, and readily identified, solutions.

This Problem Solving workshop will challenge you to think about how you go about solving problems, identify YOUR weaknesses in this area, and provide some surprisingly simple techniques to correct those problems. Peter will present you with a collection of puzzles (no math is involved) and ask you to solve them individually, in small groups and as an audience. You will not solve many of them (The gauntlet has been thrown!), you will be adamant that your answer is correct – you will prove to yourself you were wrong – and most importantly, you will learn the type of mistakes you made along the way.

In reality, the audience teaches themselves the rudiments of problem solving. The presenter, Peter de Jager, is only the person presenting the problems… the audience is the one finding the solution.

On a scale of 1-10 in terms of interaction, this presentation blows the top off the range. The problems will challenge the audience, they will confound the audience, but in the end? The audience prevails.

Workshop Structure

This 1 day workshop will take you on a journey that examines:

1. What is a ‘Problem’?

2. Problem Definition

a) Initial state
•What is the problem? (not the same question as “What is a ‘Problem’?”
•The issue of a ‘single’ description.
•Who gets to define the problem?
•Are we solving ‘Symptoms’ or removing ‘Root Causes’?

b) Givens (Resources)
•Analysis vs. Data Gathering
•The Pros and Cons of Labels - Decomposition

c)Operators
•What can you do to change the initial state?

d)Final Goal
• The “Solution”
• The issue of a ‘single’ solution.

3. Assumptions - Pitfalls and Opportunities & and how to avoid one, and capture the other.

•The Power of Lists
• PESTLE
• SWOT
• To Do

4. Problem Ownership

•Who owns this problem… and why?

5. Perspectives and Thinking outside the Box

•Getting Stuck
• Forcing a Reframing – Act 1
• The issue of Context

6. Various Techniques and Strategies

•Intuition
• Making Single Changes – monitor and track
• Enlisting the Subconscious – Reality based strategies
• Working backwards
• Chunking – sub-goals
• Forcing a Reframing – Act 2
• Forced Metaphors
• Random Access

7. Self Reflection – the path to Problem Solving progress

8. Problem Solving Philosophy




Trainer Profile

Peter de Jager is a speaker/writer/consultant who has published hundreds of articles on topics ranging from Problem Solving, Creativity and Change to the impact of technology on areas such as privacy, security and business. His articles have appeared in The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The Futurist and Scientific American.

Having spoken in more than 34 countries, he is recognised worldwide as an exciting & engaging speaker. His audiences have included the World Economic Forum & The World Bank.

His presentations use humor to challenge the myths surrounding our understanding of the Change process and the benefits of technology. His talks are suitable to both staff and upper management. His single minded objective, despite the global nature of some of the issues, is always to provide actionable solutions and new avenues of approach to seemingly intractable problems.

His presentations and workshops are highly interactive, fun, irreverent to mistaken ideas and most distinctively - provocative. His work forces you to think differently about things you thought you were already sure you knew.

This course is also available as an on-site customised course


Course Cost: €375			Duration: 1 day		Sept 2012
Location: Dublin			Click for booking form		Click for Cancellation Policy





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