Overview

Dynamic and innovative organizations require leaders at all levels who can think strategically, anticipate issues, solve problems, and make decisions based on new and emerging information while keeping the long-term vision in mind.

In this workshop, you will have the opportunity to work with a variety of tools, applying them to an important challenge or opportunity in your own organization. You will develop greater awareness of your own biases and assumptions that may stand in the way of achieving results. You will learn how and when to apply different types of thinking—systems thinking, critical thinking, and creative thinking— to a problem or opportunity and how to work with stakeholders to make and implement decisions.

Objectives and Outcomes

Participants will:

• Define strategic, systems, creative, and critical thinking
• Identify aspects of strategic thinking you currently use and those you under-use
• Identify organizational and individual barriers to strategic thinking
• Identify current issues which require strategic thinking
• Ask questions that stimulate strategic thinking in yourself and others
• Apply strategic thinking tools to an important current issue
• Develop approaches to help stakeholders think and act strategically
• Identify other tools which you can learn and apply in the future

Who Should Participate?

Leaders, project managers, team members, and individual contributors whose work has an impact on the organization’s future.

Content Outline

Introduction and Overview

• Establish an appropriate climate for learning and clarify expectations

Definitions and Positioning

• Define and position key concepts

The Big Picture: Considering the System

• Identify and communicate key components of your organizational system

Strategic Thinking Process Model

• Identify specific practices which are elements of strategic thinking

Define the Challenge

• Use the process to frame a problem to work on during class

Map the Territory

• Create a mental map of the system surrounding a problem or issue

Identify Strategic Opportunities

• Find leverage points for approaching the problem

Craft a Strategic Vision

• Create and communicate a vision in order to gain others’ support

Uncover and Test Assumptions and Mental Models

• Identify and test limiting assumptions

Develop and Explore Scenarios

• Create a basic set of scenarios and identify action steps

Generate Ideas

• Apply one or more creative thinking tools to a problem and harvest useful ideas

Make Decisions and Take Action

• Apply critical thinking skills to alternative options; clarify roles of key stakeholders in the decision process

Learning and Strategy

• Institute organizational processes that collect and communicate learning

Next Steps and Closing

• Present and critique action plans and identify practices that encourage strategic thinking