Critical Thinking Worskshop 2 days Training Course

Module 1: The Critical Thinking Mindset

• The definition of critical thinking and its vital importance in professional settings
• Distinguishing critical thinking from reactive responses, unfounded assumptions, and reliance on intuition
• Identifying common obstacles to clear and logical thought
• The influence of time constraints, past experience, and corporate culture on decision-making
• An introduction to a structured methodology for critical analysis
• Key stages: observation, interpretation, analysis, exploration, and evaluation
• Shifting focus from seeking immediate answers to posing more effective questions

Practical Exercise: Examine a recent professional decision to uncover the cognitive processes that led to the final outcome.

Module 2: Defining the Right Problem

• Distinguishing between surface-level symptoms and underlying issues
• Understanding why organisations frequently address the wrong problem
• Effective problem framing and the art of asking pertinent questions
• Uncovering hidden assumptions within problem descriptions
• Utilising the 5 Whys technique
• Conducting root cause analysis
• Exploring diverse explanations for observed issues

Practical Exercise: Utilise problem-framing and root cause analysis methods on a real or simulated professional challenge.

Module 3: Evaluating Information, Evidence and Assumptions

• Differentiating facts from opinions and assumptions
• Distinguishing interpretation from hard evidence
• Recognising gaps or incomplete data
• Assessing the reliability and relevance of available information
• Evaluating the strength versus weakness of evidence
• Identifying implicit assumptions
• Distinguishing correlation from causation
• Avoiding premature conclusions based on partial data

Practical Exercise: Analyse a business scenario involving facts, opinions, assumptions, and incomplete evidence to determine what additional data is needed before decision-making.

Module 4: Cognitive Biases and Thinking Traps

• The impact of cognitive biases on judgement and choices
• Confirmation bias
• Anchoring bias
• Authority bias
• Availability bias
• Escalation of commitment
• Groupthink
• Recognising logical fallacies in professional debates
• Ad hominem
• Straw man
• Slippery slope
• False dilemmas
• Self-critical reflection on one’s own thinking

Practical Exercise: Detect biases, assumptions, and logical fallacies within a series of professional scenarios and decision-making discussions.

Module 5: Analysing a Business Challenge

• Applying the critical thinking framework to complex issues
• Clarifying the problem before suggesting remedies
• Identifying both available and missing evidence
• Challenging initial premises
• Considering diverse interpretations
• Filtering relevant information from distractions
• Developing a problem analysis grounded in evidence

Practical Exercise: Small teams analyse a business case pertinent to the client’s sector and present their insights and rationale.

Module 6: Challenging Perspectives and Exploring Alternatives

• The value of considering multiple viewpoints for improving decision quality
• The practice of asking: "What if we are mistaken?"
• Identifying alternate explanations
• Techniques for playing Devil's Advocate
• Red Team thinking methodologies
• Fostering constructive dissent
• Questioning preferred solutions
• Using pre-mortem analysis to spot potential failure points

Practical Exercise: Participants critique a proposed business decision by exposing assumptions, risks, data gaps, and alternative strategies.

Module 7: Creative Thinking for Better Problem Solving

• The synergy between critical and creative thinking
• Divergent and convergent thinking models
• Transcending the first or most obvious solution
• Brainstorming and brainwriting methods
• Generating a range of alternatives
• Utilising SCAMPER to explore innovative approaches
• Objectively evaluating creative concepts

Practical Exercise: Generate and refine multiple solutions to a workplace issue before selecting the optimal options.

Module 8: Structured Decision Making

• Transitioning from analysis to implementation
• Defining clear decision-making criteria
• Objectively comparing different options
• Conducting cost-benefit analysis
• Evaluating risks and trade-offs
• Understanding stakeholder impact
• Applying decision matrices
• Identifying potential unintended consequences
• Decision-making in the face of uncertainty

Practical Exercise: Assess several potential solutions using established decision criteria and present a reasoned recommendation.

Module 9: Critical Thinking in Leadership and Teams

• The role of critical thinking in leadership
• Reasons why teams may make suboptimal decisions
• The effects of hierarchy, authority, and groupthink
• Encouraging constructive critique
• Cultivating an environment where questioning assumptions is welcomed
• Posing better questions during meetings
• Distinguishing between healthy disagreement and conflict
• Facilitating discussions grounded in evidence
• Communicating recommendations clearly and persuasively

Practical Exercise: Engage in a structured team decision-making activity involving competing priorities, incomplete data, and varied stakeholder perspectives.

Module 10: Final Business Simulation and Action Planning

• Applying the full critical thinking process
• Defining the core problem
• Analyzing evidence and underlying assumptions
• Identifying biases and cognitive traps
• Exploring diverse perspectives and solutions
• Establishing decision criteria
• Assessing risks and outcomes
• Developing and presenting an evidence-based recommendation

Practical Exercise: Teams collaborate on a comprehensive business scenario or, where suitable, a real workplace challenge provided by the client.