Course Methodology
Various techniques are used in this course, including analyzing business data sets, critiquing several organizational decisions, case study analysis, group discussions, and group presentations.
Course Objectives
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
- Describe the principles of analytical thinking and evidence-based decision making
- Apply logical reasoning and critical thinking strategies to solve business problems
- Evaluate different types of data and evidence in terms of their relevance and reliability
- Synthesize information from various sources to create a comprehensive understanding of a problem
- Develop logical and structured presentations based on analytical evidence
Target Audience
Analysts, managers, and professionals who are looking to build their analytical skills, as well as those who are interested in improving their decision-making capabilities based on analytical evidence
Target Competencies
- Analytical thinking
- Critical thinking
- Problem solving
- Evaluating data
- Structuring data
- Synthesizing information
- Communicating analytical findings
Introduction to Analytical Thinking
- Understanding how we think and reason
- Confirmation bias
- Analytical versus intuitive thinking
- The role of creativity in analytical thinking
- Enhancing the analytical thinking process
Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving
- Introduction to critical thinking
- Dividing issues into manageable sections
- The use of logic trees in problem-solving
- Logical fallacies
- Critical thinking in a professional context
Understanding and Evaluating Evidence
- Types of evidence
- Evaluating evidence
- Validity, reliability, and bias
- The role of statistical literacy
- Tools for evidence gathering
Synthesizing Information and Evidence
- Techniques for synthesizing information
- Comparative analysis
- Thematic analysis
- Making sense of contradictory evidence
- The role of perspective in synthesizing information
Communicating Evidence-Based Findings
- Understanding stakeholders
- Data visualization
- Building effective arguments
- Communicating findings by telling a story
- Storytelling elements
