At-a-Glance:
Course Length:
2 Days
Professional Development Units (PDUs): 14
Continuing Education Units (CEUs): 1.4
PMBOK® Guide Knowledge Areas Covered:
- Project Human Resource Management
- Project Communication Management
- Project Risk Management
Problem Solved! Decisive Project Management
Course Overview
Problems present themselves everyday in every way. A successful project manager develops an approach to problem solving that works effectively and allows for creativity in diverse situations. Although there are many ways to approach problem solving, being armed with the proper tools and skills help you to develop the most effective plan. This course focuses on a problem solving processes and techniques to assist project managers in breaking through some of the issues that are preventing their projects from moving forward.
Key Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:
- Use a standard process for approaching problem solving
- Identify and select appropriate thinking patterns for different situations
- Select and use a problem solving technique
- Describe Appreciative Inquiry
Course Outline
Setting the Stage
- Problems in the Project Management Environment
- Using the Project Team for Project Resolution
- Collaboration
Traditional Problem Definition
- Eight Steps for Traditional Problem Solving
- Using Questions to Identify the Problem
- Explaining the Problem
- The “Toyota Why” Approach
Traditional Problem Solving Techniques
- Idea Generation Techniques
- Cause and Effect Diagrams
- Brainstorming Techniques
- Affinity Diagrams
- Mind Mapping
- Nominal Group Technique
- Pairwise Comparison Matrix
Problem Solving – People Issues
- Common People Issues on Projects
- Inability vs. Unwillingness to Perform
- Expectancy Theory
Non-Traditional Problem Approaches
- Alternative Approaches to Problem Solving
- Appreciative Inquiry Technique
- Open Space Theory with Problem Solving
- TRIZ Problem Solving Technique