Executives and managers often grapple with complex, ill-structured situations that may not be recognized as problems until they loom large. Creatively and effectively solving these problems often involves leading a team of diverse individuals, which presents its own challenges. Indeed, these teams often end up solving the wrong problem.
You will learn how to create an adaptive organization that is risk tolerant and able to explore creative solutions even when confronted by many constraints. Whether you are striving to become a senior executive or already are one, in this course you will learn how to work with diverse teams to solve the right problem the first time.
[Please note: This course was originally scheduled for Dec. 9-10, 2009. The current course dates of April 20-21, 2010 replace those previous dates.]
Program Benefits
- Learn how to comprehensively formulate problems so that they can be solved
- Avoid decision traps and biases commonly found in diverse teams
- Develop capacity to work in partnership with others to address problems
OPM Competencies
- Problem solving
- Partnership
Who Should Attend
- Corporate managers and executives
- SES Executives
- Senior government managers and GS 13-15
About the Instructor
Jackson Nickerson joined the John M. Olin School of Business at Washington University in St. Louis, in 1996, and also serves as the director of Brookings Executive Education. He teaches strategic management courses on innovation, management of life science, organizational strategy, and critical thinking. His research focuses on why firms choose different organizational structures and the performance implications of these choices; with a special emphasis on knowledge, innovation, and problem solving. Jackson holds a Ph.D. and M.B.A from the Haas School of Business, University of California at Berkeley; and is a Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution.
Related Courses
Innovative Business Practices for the Public Sector
Creating New Value through Innovation
Strategic Thinking