Critical Thinking Worskshop 2 days Training Course

Module 1: Cultivating a Critical Thinking Mindset

• Defining critical thinking and its significance in a professional environment
• Distinguishing between critical thinking, impulsive reactions, assumption-based thinking, and intuition
• Identifying common obstacles to clear and logical thought
• Understanding the influence of time pressure, past experience, and organisational culture on decision-making
• Introduction to a systematic critical thinking framework
• Key stages: observation, interpretation, analysis, exploration, and evaluation
• Shifting focus from immediate answers to asking more insightful questions

Practical Exercise: Review a recent workplace decision and map out the thought process that led to the final outcome.

Module 2: Defining the Correct Problem

• Differentiating between symptoms and underlying issues
• Understanding why organisations frequently address the wrong problem
• Techniques for problem framing and asking higher-quality questions
• Uncovering assumptions embedded within problem statements
• Applying the 5 Whys technique
• Conducting root cause analysis
• Investigating alternative explanations for issues

Practical Exercise: Use problem-framing and root cause analysis methods to tackle a real or simulated workplace challenge.

Module 3: Assessing Information, Evidence, and Assumptions

• Distinguishing between facts, opinions, and assumptions
• Differentiating interpretation from verified evidence
• Recognising missing or incomplete data
• Evaluating the credibility and relevance of available information
• Differentiating between strong and weak evidence
• Identifying hidden assumptions
• Understanding the difference between correlation and causation
• Avoiding decisions based on incomplete data

Practical Exercise: Analyze a business scenario containing mixed facts, opinions, and assumptions, and determine what additional information is needed before deciding.

Module 4: Cognitive Biases and Thinking Traps

• The impact of cognitive biases on judgment and decision-making
• Confirmation bias
• Anchoring bias
• Authority bias
• Availability bias
• Escalation of commitment
• Groupthink
• Recognising logical fallacies in workplace discussions
• Ad hominem arguments
• Straw man tactics
• Slippery slope reasoning
• False dilemmas
• Techniques for challenging one’s own thinking patterns

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

Module 5: Analysing a Business Challenge

• Applying the critical thinking process to complex problems
• Clarifying the problem scope before proposing solutions
• Identifying available versus missing evidence
• Questioning initial assumptions
• Considering alternative interpretations of data
• Filtering relevant information from distractions
• Building an evidence-based problem analysis

Practical Exercise: In small groups, analyse a business case relevant to the client’s industry and present the findings and logical reasoning.

Module 6: Challenging Perspectives and Exploring Alternatives

• How considering alternative viewpoints enhances decision quality
• Adopting the mindset of asking: "What if we are wrong?"
• Identifying alternative explanations
• Using Devil’s Advocate techniques
• Applying Red Team thinking
• Fostering constructive disagreement
• Challenging preferred solutions
• Using pre-mortem analysis to identify potential failure points

Practical Exercise: Critically examine a proposed business decision by uncovering assumptions, risks, missing evidence, and alternative approaches.

Module 7: Creative Thinking for Enhanced Problem Solving

• The synergy between critical thinking and creative thinking
• Divergent versus convergent thinking
• Moving beyond the first or most obvious solution
• Brainstorming and brainwriting techniques
• Generating multiple viable alternatives
• Using SCAMPER to explore new approaches
• Objectively evaluating creative ideas

Practical Exercise: Generate and refine multiple solutions to a workplace challenge before selecting the most suitable option.

Module 8: Structured Decision Making

• Transitioning from analysis to action
• Establishing clear decision criteria
• Objectively comparing alternatives
• Conducting cost and benefit analysis
• Assessing risks and trade-offs
• Understanding stakeholder impact
• Utilising decision matrices
• Identifying potential unintended consequences
• Making informed decisions under conditions of uncertainty

Practical Exercise: Evaluate several potential solutions using established decision criteria and present a well-justified recommendation.

Module 9: Critical Thinking in Leadership and Teams

• The role of critical thinking in effective leadership
• Why teams occasionally make suboptimal decisions
• The impact of hierarchy, authority, and groupthink
• Encouraging constructive challenge within teams
• Creating an environment that allows for questioning assumptions
• Asking more effective questions during meetings
• Distinguishing between disagreement and conflict
• Facilitating evidence-based discussions
• Communicating recommendations with clarity and conviction

Practical Exercise: Engage in a structured team decision-making exercise that involves competing priorities, incomplete information, and varying stakeholder perspectives.

Module 10: Final Business Simulation and Action Planning

• Applying the complete critical thinking process
• Defining the core problem
• Analyzing evidence and underlying assumptions
• Identifying biases and thinking traps
• Exploring alternative perspectives and solutions
• Setting clear decision criteria
• Assessing risks and potential consequences
• Developing and presenting an evidence-based recommendation

Practical Exercise: Work in teams on a comprehensive business scenario, or, where appropriate, tackle one of the client’s actual workplace challenges.