problem solving course description

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Problem Solving and Critical Thinking Course

Problem Solving and Critical Thinking considers how most successful professionals of the 21st century will be able to assess an environment, analyze a situation, design alternative solutions, and assist organizations in creatively overcoming challenges and reaching strategic goals.

This course focuses on the development of reasoning and problem solving skills by using the scientific method to analyze case studies and controversial topics. Learners consider cultural differences in reasoning, inductive and deductive logic, and how to use positive inquiry and synthesis to solve individual and organizational problems. Emphasis is placed on successful models and proven methods that are transferable within the work environment.

Course level

Undergraduate

Course duration

max. 8 weeks

Estimated time per week

10-15 hours

Course prerequisites

Course credits

Relevant jobs

Problem Solving and Critical Thinking Course Overview

Explain the central elements of problem solving and decision making

Develop a strategic approach to individual growth and development and organizational performance

Identify the human factors that impact the results in problem solving and decision making processes

Apply problem solving and decision making processes and methods to real-world situations

Explain the essential components of problem solving and decision making and the obstacles associated with them

Analyze how cultural differences in beliefs can impact higher-order reasoning processes and social norms

Problem Solving and Critical Thinking Course Skills

How will i learn, learning experience.

Your course starts on the first of the month. The course consists of 6 modules, and is designed to take you eight weeks to complete. Nexford’s learning design team has purposefully created courses to equip you with competencies mapped to the skills employers are looking for. Each course has 5-7 learning outcomes based on the skills employers need. Everything you learn gives you measurable skills you will use to succeed in today’s world of work.

Nexford courses are not live or recorded lectures. Instead, they’re reading, videos, interactive elements, quizzes and relevant case studies. Programs include assessments, peer-to-peer discussions, and a final project to practice what you’ve learned in a real-world context. Program content is available 24/7 during the course, and you have opportunities for collaboration and networking with learners during and after your program. Our global community of learners work at top companies such as Microsoft, Deloitte, and Google .

You'll have 24/7 access to success advisors to support you. Faculty also provide you world-class support. Book appointments with them, get individual feedback, and attend regular optional webinars.Nexford courses are rigorous and they encourage critical thinking - because we care about what you know how to do not what you know you have regular hands-on assessments reflecting the business world.

Course Outline

How will i be graded.

View the catalog to learn about how this course is graded.

What will I get after completing the course?

You'll get real skills you can use at work, straight away. At the end of this course, you'll also get a digital badge that you can put on your LinkedIn profile to showcase your skills.

Once you've taken one course, you can take more. Using stacked credentials, you’re able to take enough courses to make a certificate, and take enough certificates to build a degree.

If you apply for a Nexford certificate or degree, you'll get credit for each course you take.

What support will I receive?

When you have a dedicated team on your side, you'll never be alone studying at Nexford. Hailing from many different countries and with online education expertise, our faculty provides you world-class support. Ask them questions during one-to-one office hours or live chat , email them any time, and get individual feedback on your assessments.

While you’re learning, you’ll also have full access to the Nexford online library, which includes access to millions of full-text articles, industry reports and key sources such as the Wall Street Journal, the Financial Times and The Economist.

LinkedIn Learning: unlimited access with Nexford

Support your Nexford goals with access to LinkedIn Learning during your program, at no additional cost. Explore the learning hub of the globe’s biggest professional networking platform to:

• Power your career: choose from over 16,000 expert-led courses, from remote working to data science
• Show off your skills: earn a certificate when you complete a course
• See what’s trending: LinkedIn Learning adds 25 new courses each week
• Tailor your learning: choose relevant courses based on your experience, LinkedIn profile and goals
• Test what you’ve learned: use LinkedIn Learning assessments

Questions? We’re here to help

Frequently asked questions

Problem Solving and Critical Thinking Course Testimonials

When I started at Nexford I found a direction.

Each course is like a door opening.

My weekly reflective journal is my Nexford highlight. Thanks to faculty support, I continually apply principles to my enterprise – and I've been able to scale beyond considerable measure.

I don't have to spend a fortune to earn a high-quality MBA.

Creative Thinking: Innovative Solutions to Complex Challenges

Learn how to grow a culture of creativity to innovate competitive solutions.

Associated Schools

Harvard Division of Continuing Education

Professional & Executive Development

Course description.

Leverage your team's creativity to solve complex problems and innovate. Learn how to facilitate creative problem-solving, cultivate courage, inspire teams, and build a climate for innovation. 

Instructors

Anne Manning

Susan Robertson

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8D Training

8d training (onsite).

– Training at Your Facility –

⇓   8D Training Course Details

⇓   8D Training Course Description

⇓   8D Training Course Objectives

⇓   8D Training Course Outline

⇓   Learn More About 8D Training

8D Course Details (Onsite)

When you choose onsite Eight Disciplines of Problem Solving (8D) Training, Quality-One brings the knowledge to you, resulting in immediate benefits for your team. The convenience of Onsite Technical Training has made it a popular option for many of our clients who require five or more participants to be trained.  Expenses are minimal compared to having the whole team travel.

8D Course Description (Onsite)

The Quality-One 8D problem solving training course follows the steps of 8D in a dynamic, instructor-led environment. The course describes to participants the methodologies that have proven to be best practices for effective 8D development. Each participant will be able to interact with all of the elements of the 8D process, including the use of tools such as: Ishikawa/ Fishbone, Affinity Diagrams, Is / Is Not, Process Flow and Comparative Analysis. All activities will include industry-specific examples and terminology.

Participants will learn how to follow the 8D process steps while working in a Cross Functional Team (CFT). They will also practice problem solving tools to support a root cause and eliminate it through permanent corrective action. Participants can expect team activities and relevant exercises in a workshop format. The Quality-One 8D training materials and examples also provide an invaluable resource for review time after time.

8D Course Objectives (Onsite)

Participants can expect to learn and develop skills to confidently:

• Perform 8D step by step
• Link 8D to Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) , Product Development Process and Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP)
• Facilitate an effective 8D
• Participate in 8D exercises
• Define root causes and mechanisms of failure
• Set up a Cross Functional Team (CFT)
• Determine effective Interim Containment Action
• Manage and store 8D content (Lessons Learned) for future use
• Ishikawa/Fishbone
• Is / Is Not
• Statistical Process Control (SPC)
• Poka Yoke (Error Proofing)
• Understand links to Control Plan Methodology
• Complete the 8D format correctly

8D Course Outline (Onsite)

Section 1 – 8D Overview

• Team Problem Solving Principles
• Process Description (9 Step Process)
• Team Structure (Cross Functional Team)
• Inductive vs. Deductive Problem Solving
• Change-Induced Problems
• Never-Achieved Problems

Section 2 – Review of Analytical Tools in 8D

• Brainstorming Rules
• Ishikawa / Fishbone
• Affinity Diagram
• Control Chart
• Relationship between 8D and FMEA
• 5 Why (3-Legged Approach)
• Interfaces and Noise Factors
• Error Proofing

Section 3 – 8D Process Step by Step

• Problem Symptom
• Quantified Symptom
• Criteria for 8D Continuance
• Roles and Responsibilities
• Team Preparation
• Agenda and Rules
• Core Team and SMEs
• Repeated Why
• Workshop on Problem Statements and Brainstorming
• Workshop on Problem Description Development
• D3 – Interim Containment Action (ICA)
• Human Factors (Operator Error)
• Comparative Analysis
• Root Cause Theories
• Root Cause Verification
• Escape Point
• Workshop on Root Cause Theories
• Methods for Selecting PCA
• Verification of PCA
• Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) Implementation Plan
• Change Management
• Stakeholders
• Validation Criteria and Sample Size
• Processes and Procedures
• Lessons Learned
• Archive of Documents

8D Training (Offsite)

– Training at Our Facility –

8D Course Details (Offsite)

8D Training in a Quality-One Technical Training Center provides participants with a learning environment that is free from interruption from daily activities. This type of course is recommended for individuals or organizations with less than 5 people who require training. Our offsite Eight Disciplines of Problem Solving (8D) Training activities are developed around principles that all participants can relate to. Offsite training also allows participants from different backgrounds and industries to share their viewpoints and experiences. This discussion often helps participants from one industry take advantage of best practices that are used in another.

8D Course Description (Offsite)

This engaging, instructor-led 8D problem solving training course takes participants through each step of the 8D problem solving process. The course offers each participant the knowledge of methodologies which have proven to be the best practices for 8D development. Each participant will be able to interact with all of the elements of the 8D process, including the use of tools such as: Ishikawa / Fishbone, Affinity Diagrams, Is / Is Not, Process Flow and Comparative Analysis.

Participants will learn how to follow the 8D process steps while working in a Cross Functional Team (CFT). They will also practice problem solving tools to support a root cause and eliminate it through permanent corrective action. Participants can expect team activities and relevant exercises in a workshop format. The Quality-One reference materials and examples also provide an invaluable resource for review time after time.

8D Course Objectives (Offsite)

8d course outline (offsite).

• Ishakawa / Fishbone
• 5 Why (3-Legged 5 Why Approach)
• D0 – Prepare (Plan) for the 8D

8D Training (Online)

– Technical Training Overview –

8D Course Details (Online)

The Quality-One Online Eight Disciplines of Problem Solving (8D) Training Overview is an excellent introduction to the 8D methodology. The course is completely interactive, featuring audio, video, animation and downloadable reference materials. Online training gives you immediate access to 8D process content and is available 24 hours a day.

8D Course Description (Online)

Quality-One Online 8D Training Overview introduces participants to the basic principles of 8D, including each step required in the 8D format. Participants will also be able to understand the sequence of the 8D process and receive guidance on what tools are involved with each step. This course follows a structured approach for defining problems and identifying root causes. The participant will have 30 days to complete this course and can access it at any time.

8D Course Objectives (Online)

Upon completion of this overview, the participant will acquire the knowledge to:

• Understand the 8D process and describe each step
• Describe the tools and methods used in support of 8D
• Explain how 8D teams are structured
• Identify Symptoms, Problem Statements, Problem Descriptions, Possible Causes, Most Likely Causes and Root Causes
• Describe Interim Containment and Permanent Corrective Actions
• Explain how Preventative Analysis benefits organizations
• Explain verification vs. validation during problem solving
• Explain how the escape points link to control plans

8D Course Outline (Online)

• Change Induced Problems
• Never Achieved Problems
• Ishakawa Fishbone
• 5 Why (3-legged Approach)
• D3 – Interim Containment Action
• Root Cause theories
• PDSA Implementation Plan
• D8 – Closure and Congratulate the Team

Learn More About 8D Training

Quality-One offers Quality and Reliability Support for Product and Process Development through Consulting, Training and Project Support. Quality-One provides Knowledge, Guidance and Direction in Quality and Reliability activities, tailored to your unique wants, needs and desires. Let us help you Discover the Value of 8D Consulting , 8D Training or 8D Project Support .

Contact Us | Discover the Value!

(248) 280-4800 | [email protected]

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Problem solving

In:  work skills, what you’ll learn....

• What problem solving is
• Why problem-solving skills are important at work and in daily life
• What steps to take to solve problems
• How to build strong problem-solving skills

Course description

Everyone has problems. Being able to solve them can improve our quality of life. Problem solving is the skill we use to fix things. Building strong problem-solving skills can help us understand what causes the problems we face and what we can do about them. It can also make us happier, more confident, and more independent.

In this course, we’ll learn about:

• What problem solving is and why it’s important
• What steps to take to start solving problems
• Why a problem might happen and how to use problem-solving skills to tackle it

The Problem Solving course is part of the UP Skills for Work program which helps you build skills for learning, work, and life. When you have these skills, you have the foundation you need to work well with others — at work, at home, and in your community. The UP Skills for Work program courses include: Motivation, Attitude, Accountability, Presentation, Collaboration, Time Management, Adaptability, Stress Management, Reading, Writing, Numeracy, Digital, Problem Solving, Confidence, Communication, Creativity and Innovation.

This course is made possible through the generous support of Canada Life, the founding sponsor of UP Skills for Work . This project is funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Adult Learning, Literacy and Essential Skills Program. To learn more about the program, please visit the UP Skills for Work website.

Problem-Solving Training Course Materials for the Workplace

Last updated April 2, 2024

Our Problem-Solving training course materials are for freelance and corporate trainers to run sessions on how to solve fairly complex problems as workplace training. These materials are suitable to train leaders, managers, and employees at any level.

The materials guide the participants through a seven-step problem-solving process and introduce them to some useful techniques (some creative and some more analytical) they can apply to help them find solutions to their problems.

This training package is:

• Fully customizable and editable
• US English & British English compatible
• Downloadable immediately
• Can also be  adapted to use for online teaching  and training in virtual classrooms.
• and you will own the rights to edit and reuse it for as many of ‘ your own courses’  as you wish

Page Contents

Samples from the Training Materials

Click on the slides below to magnify

Problem-Solving Strategies and Techniques

• 7 steps to problem-solving
• Types of problems
• Problem identification techniques
• Goal visualization
• Techniques for finding causes, including the fishbone and why-why diagrams
• Creative problem-solving techniques to generate ideas, including brainstorming and using analogies
• Decision-making techniques to choose the best solution, including pros and cons analysis and the weighted decision matrix
• Tips on how to implement and review a solution

Moving forward after the Training Session

• Thinking about your future problem-solving approach
• Summary of points to take away

With this Course, Instantly Download:

✔  55 PowerPoint  slide deck (includes tutor notes on each slide)

✔ 89-page Trainers workbook

✔  Course documents (including sign-in sheet, course evaluation sheet, course outline, suggested reading list document)

✔ Participants’ workbook, which includes a list of further readings.

✔ Five activities handouts, which include scenarios and templates for class activities.

✔  Course certificate (printable to hand to participants)

✔ A PDF guide with suggestions on how to adapt the activities for teaching the course online, if you ever need to.

Documents are delivered using MS Word, PDF (in case you do not have MS Word), and PowerPoint.

American & British English Compatible

Suitable for both American English & British English styles .

• We have avoided any words that can cause confusion between American and British English styles such as soccer/football.
• We have used terms that are common in both and we have used the American style for a few words where a ‘z’ rather than ‘s’ is used i.e. materialize.

Happy Customers Include

British GBP £127 (approx. USD$159)

Buy This Course

• To purchase click the “Buy Now” button below.
• You can choose to pay via PayPal or by Credit card.
• Once you have paid, you will immediately receive a digital link to download the zip file straight away.

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Critical and Creative Thinking Course

Business strategy. plan and secure success..

This critical and creative thinking course will allow you to apply critical thinking skills to the workplace so you can clarify concepts and evaluate knowledge, especially the sources of truth. The development of your creative thinking skills will stimulate you to generate ideas, explore new possibilities and solve problems in novel ways, both individually and with others.

The focus in today’s workplace is on innovative solutions. Exercising critical and creative thinking skills is vital for creating competitive offers and being first to offer new advantages for your organisation through innovative services and products. The key is to continue to develop your critical and creative thinking skills so that they manifest spontaneously when needed.

The aim of this course is to build your skills in critical and creative problem solving in both workplace and everyday situations. The development of your critical and creative thinking will enable you to deliver stronger outcomes to the workplace and in leading others.

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

• describe the concept of critical thinking and why it is so important for establishing facts before making workplace decisions
• demonstrate skills in creative thinking by identifying and refining a ‘problem’ and approaching problem-solving from different angles with a fresh perspective
• build stronger arguments with evidence-based decision making by discerning fact from fiction, and drawing on reasoned arguments for solving problems
• combine both critical and creative thinking to approach problems with sound judgement, and by offering innovative solutions, by yourself and with others.

The “Thinking” process

• How to define a problem and separate fact from opinionated fact and opinion
• Understanding heuristics, mental shortcuts, emotions and cognitive biases that influence our thinking
• Understanding sources of inspiration for creative thinking and the importance of perspective in redefining the problem

Critical thinking

• The nature of critical thinking
• How not to judge prematurely
• The importance of maintaining a broad perspective, acquiring facts, listening and reflecting
• How to make judgments in a disciplined way, with rationality whilst minimising emotion

Creative thinking

• The nature of creative thinking
• The importance of defining and redefining the problem
• The development of skills in ideation, illustration, refection, asking good questions and iterative reconsideration of the problem/ solution process
• The role that intuition plays
• Ways of thinking laterally by yourself and with others

Combining creative and critical thinking in the problem-solving process

• Development of skills using class-based problems and real-life scenarios for practical application

Intended audience

This course is intended for anyone in business, government or creative industries who are seeking to apply critical and creative thinking to solve problems in robust and creative ways, whilst discerning the sources of truth.

Prerequisites

Delivery modes.

• Face-to-face, presenter-taught workshop
• Online workshop via the platform Zoom

Course materials are distributed electronically.

Recommended reading

Birgili, B., 2015, Creative and Critical Thinking Skills in Problem-based Learning Environments, Journal of Gifted Education and Creativity , vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 71-80.

Paul, R. and Elder, L., 2006, Critical Thinking: The Nature of Critical and Creative Thought, Journal of Developmental Education , vol. 30, no. 2, p.34.

Paul, R. and Elder, L., 2019, The Nature and Functions of Critical & Creative Thinking , Rowman & Littlefield.

Wechsler, S.M., Saiz, C., Rivas, S.F., Vendramini, C.M.M., Almeida, L.S., Mundim, M.C. and Franco, A., 2018, Creative and Critical Thinking: Independent or Overlapping Components?, Thinking Skills and Creativity , vol. 27, pp. 114-122.

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• CCE Statement of Completion

Creative & Critical Thinking Course - Problem-solving Build problem solving skills in work & everyday situations with a creative & critical thinking course. Online & face-to-face. Individual and corporate team training. Enrol now.

Class schedule

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<p>This critical and creative thinking course will allow you to apply critical thinking skills

2024-06-05 Wed 5 Jun 2024 2024-06-05

9am - 5pm 9am - 5pm (UTC+10:00)

1 session, 8 hours total

John Le Mesurier

Wed 5 Jun 2024

9am - 5pm (UTC+10:00)

Face-to-face (venue TBA) - Face-to-face (venue TBA)

If there isn't a class to suit your preferred time or delivery format, please JOIN the waiting list.

Featured facilitators

John brings a wealth of business, management, IT, consultancy and training experience to many of the professional development courses on offer at CCE. This experience has included senior corporate...

What others say

What I loved most about this course was the exercises, which then lead to incredible discussions!

- Dioryto Clarakrina Elyzabeth

I had a great experience! I was able to challenge my creative and critical thinking side, which I can use for my own business. It was also encouraging to be around a diverse group of people, as this allowed me to understand other perspectives.

- Jacky Luo

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Problem-Solving — Description

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This KB document is part of a larger collection of documents on discussions. More Discussion documents

Problem-Solving

Description.

This discussion type has the primary purpose of gathering evidence for student understanding or grading. It includes activities that require students to use their new content knowledge to solve problems, investigate related questions, and make predictions. This type of discussion is a reflective, integrative, and action-oriented activity, often including solving problems, case analysis, and applying and integrating new concepts with other concepts and relationships (Boettcher, 2019).

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Use it when you want...

• Students to undergo substantial thinking and research, including citing relevant readings, research, and problem-solving.
• Students to apply and integrate the new concepts with other concepts and relationships.
• Identify a course concept that offers opportunities for students to apply an analytical process and integrate their content knowledge to solve problems. The complexity of the problem may help inform the problem-solving structure you use.
• Decide on a basic structure for problem-solving, such as assigned or self-directed problem choice, what resources and working processes you will accept, and how students will report their findings. For example, for a complex problem that benefits from multiple contributors, you could break the analytic process into parts and assign students in groups of 4-5 to roles within the process. Another example of a less complex problem is to have students work in pairs to articulate their problem-solving process and listen to another’s process. Depending on the student’s skill level, you may choose to provide them with a structure for the problem-solving process.
• Consider your expectations for the response pattern. For example, students assigned to specific roles in an in-depth analytic process could prepare a prospectus in which they formulate their research questions, state the goals of the project, and identify the resources they will need to carry out their investigation. They should choose their chosen method, divide up, and assign tasks. Students listening to another student’s problem-solving process could be encouraged to ask probing questions such as “How did you come up with that answer?” or “What evidence supports that claim?”
• Provide an online discussion structure that will support the response pattern, such as creating student groups and potentially a collaborative working space.
• Give teams time to engage in their processes and to develop their analysis or problem solutions.
• Have groups submit their results. Examples: An analysis group may prepare and submit their final reports, or a problem-solving pair may submit individual or team responses to the problem(s).
• Review student analysis or formal presentation of findings. You may consider whether to include responses regarding their reflection on the analysis/problem-solving process.
• Provide feedback/grade to the group or individual based on the quality of their responses.
• Summarize student performance in the next class. Tell them how these skills will affect their future work and make suggestions on how students can improve their analytic process.
• Integration and Documentation Discussions
• Problem-Solving — Example
• Problem-Solving — Rubric
• Affordances of Online Discussions
• Steps for Building an Online Asynchronous Discussion
• Using Online Discussions to Increase Student Engagement