About This Course
The Strategic Decision‑Maker course focuses on one core question: how do you make better decisions when the stakes are high and the information is incomplete?
You will learn to frame problems, gather and interpret data, explore options, understand risks and communicate decisions with clarity. By the end, you’ll have a practical toolkit to move conversations from “I think” to “Here’s the case and the trade‑offs we’re choosing.”
Syllabus Overview
Module 1
Strategic Thinking & Problem Framing
- Decisions at Different Levels – operational, tactical, strategic
- Strategy vs Execution – connecting day‑to‑day choices to the bigger picture
- Problem Framing – symptom vs root cause, clarifying the real question
- Decision Context – constraints, time horizons, stakeholders and success criteria
- Cognitive Biases – common traps (confirmation, anchoring, groupthink)
- Exercise: Turn a vague problem into a clear decision brief with options
Module 2
Structured Analysis & Options
- Using Data in Decisions – what to measure, basic trends & comparisons
- Simple Frameworks – SWOT‑style views, impact vs effort, priority matrices
- Option Building – generating, grouping and refining possible paths
- Trade‑offs & Criteria – cost, risk, benefit, time, capability
- Scenario Thinking – “what if” views and guardrails for downside risk
- Exercise: Build a simple options‑and‑criteria table for a key decision
Module 3
Risk, Stakeholders & Decision Execution
- Risk Identification – what can go wrong, likelihood, impact
- Mitigation & Contingency – reducing risk and planning “Plan B / C”
- Stakeholder Mapping – who is affected, who decides, who must be informed
- Decision Communication – crisp narratives, visuals and “why we chose this”
- Execution Discipline – decision logs, follow‑ups and learning from outcomes
- Exercise: Prepare a short decision note with context, choice and next steps
*Examples are adapted based on learners’ contexts (IT, operations, sales, product, projects, shared services, etc.).
Practice
Decision Canvases, Cases & Playbook
- Decision brief and decision log templates
- Case study: choosing between competing initiatives with limited capacity
- Creating your personal “Strategic Decision‑Making Playbook”
