The two-day workshop provides a comprehensive overview of the decision-making process and enables the learners to grasp and use all the key concepts of the process. These training modules are used for the two-day session:
Module 1—The Decision-Making Process: Anatomy of a Decision (Ch 9)
Module 2—The Creative Process: Developing Options (Ch 10)
Module 3—Barriers to Creativity (Ch 11)
Module 4—Overcoming Barriers to Creativity (Ch 12)
Module 5—Tools to Improve Creativity (Ch 13)
Module 6—The Analytic Process: Narrowing Down the Options (Ch 14)
Module 7—Using Everyday Statistics (Ch 15)
Module 8—Using Tools to Improve Analysis (Ch 16)
Module 9—The Human Aspect: Emotional and Irrational Factors (Ch 17)
Module 10—Implementing the Decision: Wrap-Up (Ch 18)
Presented below is an overview of the modules for a two-day workshop, including the training objectives and a sample agenda with approximate times needed to complete each of the modules. Please refer to chapters 9 through 18 for a full description of the module contents, including a detailed facilitator’s guide for each module.
Module 1 lays a foundation for all that follows it. It introduces the subject of decision making and breaks it into the process that will be used throughout the training workshop.
After completing module 1, the participants should be able to
Introduction, welcome, and housekeeping items | 15 minutes |
Pretest and discussion | 15 minutes |
PowerPoint presentation | 30 minutes |
Break | 10 minutes |
Complete PowerPoint presentation | 10 minutes |
Worksheet exercise and discussion | 30 minutes |
Wrap-up, learning check, and preview | 10 minutes |
Note: This schedule includes time for a pretest at the start, a learning check at the end, and administrative trivia associated with starting a training program (such as introductions, laying out the schedule and ground rules, and so on). A 10-minute break is included in modules of more than 90 minutes.
Module 2 introduces the subjects of creativity and risk in decision making.
After completing module 2, the participants should be able to
Introduction, welcome, and review | 5 minutes |
PowerPoint presentation | 30 minutes |
Worksheet/exercise and discussion | 20 minutes |
Wrap-up, learning check, and preview | 5 minutes |
Note: This includes time for a quick review at the start and a learning check at the end.
This module delves into the subject of barriers to creativity.
After completing module 3, the participants should be able to identify
Introduction, welcome, and review of previous modules | 5 minutes |
PowerPoint presentation | 25 minutes |
Creativity barriers exercise | 15 minutes |
Group discussions of barriers to creativity | 10 minutes |
Wrap-up, learning check, and preview of next module | 5 minutes |
Note: This includes time for a quick review and a learning check at the end.
Module 4 presents methods for overcoming the barriers to creativity identified in module 3. Module 4 is recommended for any session in which the training program lasts more than one day. It should always follow module 3.
After completing module 4, the participants should be able to
Introduction, welcome, and review of previous modules | 5 minutes |
PowerPoint presentation | 30 minutes |
Worksheet/exercise | 20 minutes |
Wrap-up, learning check, and preview of next module | 5 minutes |
Note: This schedule includes time for a quick review at the start and a learning check at the end.
This module describes several tools that can help improve creativity.
After completing this module, the participants should be able to
Introduction, welcome, and review of previous module | 5 minutes |
PowerPoint presentation and practice exercise | 50 minutes |
Break | 10 minutes |
PowerPoint presentation and practice exercise | 50 minutes |
Wrap-up, learning check, and preview of next module | 5 minutes |
Note: This schedule includes time for a quick review at the start and a learning check at the end. It includes time for both presentations by the trainer and exercises in applying new skills by participants. As with all units of more than 90 minutes, a 10-minute break is included.
Module 6 covers the subject of gathering information to help make an effective decision.
After completing module 6, the participants should be able to
Review and introduction of the analytic process | 5 minutes |
PowerPoint presentation and discussion | 30 minutes |
Worksheet/exercise | 20 minutes |
Wrap-up, measurement, and preview of next module | 5 minutes |
Note: This schedule includes time for a quick review at the start and a learning check at the end.
Module 7 covers basic concepts of statistics that are helpful in making decisions.
Warn the boss about this module: On the chance that top brass in your organization may visit the training room, you may want to assure them that the card and dice games being played by participants are relevant to the subject of using statistics to improve decision making.
After completing this module, the participants should be able to
Review and introduction of statistical concepts | 5 minutes |
Exercise/games | 15 minutes |
PowerPoint presentation and discussion* | 55 minutes |
Practice exercise* | 10 minutes |
Wrap-up, measurement, and preview | 5 minutes |
*You may either integrate the practice exercise and the lecture or save the practice time until after the PowerPoint presentation and discussion.
Note: This schedule includes time for a quick review at the start and a learning check at the end.
Module 8 covers the use of simple tools that may be helpful when making decisions.
After completing module 8, the participants should be able to
Review and introduction of tools that improve analysis | 5 minutes |
PowerPoint presentation and discussion | 50 minutes |
Break | 10 minutes |
Complete PowerPoint presentation | 20 minutes |
Practice/worksheets | 30 minutes |
Wrap-up, measurement, and preview of next module | 5 minutes |
Note: This schedule includes time for a quick review at the start and a learning check at the end. As for all modules of more than 90 minutes, this schedule includes a 10-minute break.
Module 9 covers the human aspects that frequently arise in making decisions.
After completing this module, the participants should be able to
Review and introduction of human aspects of decision making | 5 minutes |
PowerPoint presentation and discussion | 60 minutes |
Worksheet/exercise | 20 minutes |
Wrap-up, measurement, and preview of next module | 5 minutes |
Note: This schedule includes time for a quick review at the start and a learning check at the end.
Module 10 describes a process for developing a proposal to elicit agreement to implement a decision. It should be used in all two-day programs. Module 10 also includes the end-of-program review and a posttest covering the material.
After completing this module, the participants should be able to
Review and introduction of tools for implementing a decision | 5 minutes |
PowerPoint presentation and discussion | 40 minutes |
Break | 10 minutes |
Evaluation Instrument | 35 minutes |
Posttest, discussion, and wrap-up | 30 minutes |
Note: This schedule includes time for a quick review at the start and a learning check at the end. As with all modules of more than 90 minutes, a 10-minute break is included. Because this is the final module, it includes time for a posttest and program evaluation (Evaluation Instrument 5–2).