About this Event
STRIVE WISDOM | EVENT LEARNING BRIEF
Critical Thinking and Decision-Making in Complex Work Environments
San Jose, California, USA
01 | The Session At A Glance
Location - San Jose, California, USA
Duration - 1 Full Day – 8 Hours
Delivery - Instructor-led classroom training
Format - In-person classroom training / Virtual Session
Language - English
Credits - 8 PDUs / Training Hours
Certification - Course Completion Certificate
Refreshments - Enjoy Complimentary Refreshments (Beverages, Lunch, and Snacks are included)
02 | Why This Session?
Workplace decisions often involve incomplete information, competing priorities and uncertain outcomes. Critical thinking helps professionals assess information, examine problems and choose appropriate responses based on evidence and context.
- Analyse Problems: Identify root causes, contributing factors and workplace challenges.
- Evaluate Evidence: Distinguish facts from assumptions and recognise information gaps.
- Compare Alternatives: Assess options, risks, constraints and potential consequences.
- Make Informed Decisions: Apply structured reasoning to workplace situations and communicate decisions clearly.
03 | What You Can Take Into Your Work
- Apply structured critical-thinking methods to workplace problems.
- Identify assumptions, biases and information gaps.
- Evaluate evidence and distinguish facts from unsupported conclusions.
- Analyse complex situations by identifying contributing factors.
- Compare alternatives using decision criteria, risks and constraints.
- Recognise uncertainty and consider potential consequences.
- Develop practical approaches to prioritising problems and selecting responses.
- Communicate decision rationale clearly to colleagues and stakeholders.
- Review outcomes and identify lessons for future decisions.
04 | Is This Session For You?
Managers and Department Heads: Evaluate operational challenges, compare alternatives and explain decisions to teams.
Team Leaders and Supervisors: Address workplace problems and respond to changing priorities.
Project and Programme Managers: Assess project risks, dependencies, constraints and competing demands.
Operations and Business Professionals: Examine process issues, resource allocation and operational decisions.
Business Analysts and Strategy Professionals: Evaluate evidence, question assumptions and support recommendations with clear reasoning.
Consultants and Professional Advisers: Assess client situations, compare options and communicate decision rationale.
Entrepreneurs and Business Owners: Consider uncertainty, resources, priorities and risks when making business decisions.
05 | The Strive Wisdom Approach
Practical: Focuses on workplace problems, evidence evaluation and decision criteria.
Human-Centred: Considers different perspectives, stakeholder needs and professional communication.
Responsible: Emphasises evidence-based reasoning, uncertainty and potential consequences.
Workflow-Oriented: Connects critical thinking with everyday tasks, project planning and operational decisions.
Applied: Uses learning activities to examine problems, compare options and reflect on decisions.
06 | From Individual Learning To Team Practice
Teams can improve decision-making by agreeing on the problem, reviewing available evidence, identifying assumptions and comparing alternatives against clear criteria.
Useful team practices include:
- Separating facts from assumptions and opinions.
- Considering different stakeholder perspectives.
- Evaluating risks, constraints and possible consequences.
- Recording decision rationale and outstanding uncertainties.
- Reviewing outcomes and applying lessons to future decisions.
Managers can support these practices by encouraging constructive questions, sharing relevant information and allowing time for informed discussion.
In-House Session
Want to train your entire team?
Strive Wisdom can discuss an in-house session aligned with your organisation's professional responsibilities, workflows and decision-making requirements. The content can be considered in the context of relevant workplace challenges, team processes and organisational objectives.
Agenda
The Seven Practical Areas
Module 1: Foundations of Critical Thinking
Info: ● Understand the role of critical thinking in workplace problem-solving.
● Distinguish facts, opinions, assumptions and interpretations.
● Recognise how reasoning supports professional judgement.
● Icebreaker
Module 2: Identifying and Defining Problems
Info: ● Define problems before exploring solutions.
● Distinguish underlying issues from visible symptoms.
● Identify relevant information and constraints.
● Case Study
Module 3: Evaluating Evidence and Information
Info: ● Assess the relevance and reliability of information.
● Recognise information gaps and conflicting evidence.
● Ask focused questions to clarify decisions.
● Group Discussion
Module 4: Recognising Biases and Assumptions
Info: ● Identify assumptions that influence judgement.
● Examine how personal perspectives affect interpretation.
● Consider alternative viewpoints before reaching conclusions.
● Role Play
Module 5: Analysing Alternatives and Risks
Info: ● Generate and compare possible solutions.
● Evaluate options against objectives and constraints.
● Consider risks, trade-offs and unintended consequences.
● Simulation
Module 6: Making and Communicating Decisions
Info: ● Select responses using evidence and defined criteria.
● Explain decision rationale to relevant stakeholders.
● Recognise when further information or consultation is needed.
● Hands on Activity
Module 7: Reviewing Decisions and Improving Judgement
Info: ● Review outcomes against intended objectives.
● Identify lessons from previous decisions.
● Develop habits for ongoing critical thinking.
● Workshop Exercise
Event venue & nearby stays
Regus - CA, San Jose - 84 S First Street, 84 South First Street, 3rd Floor, San Jose, United States
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