COURSE OVERVIEW
Critical and creative thinking work hand-in-hand to drive innovation and effective problem-solving within HR. This course equips HR professionals with the skills to recognize challenges, gather and evaluate information, identify assumptions, and apply logical reasoning to reach well-founded conclusions. A well-developed capacity for critical and creative thinking enables HR officers to design practical solutions, enhancing decision-making accuracy and fostering organizational growth.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Evaluate their own thinking and communication styles using a range of critical, creative, and design thinking tools.
• Understand the importance of clear communication and active listening in creating an environment where careful measurement, assessment, and innovative thinking thrive.
• Develop the skills required to make sound business decisions.
• Differentiate between solving problems and generating solutions.
• Apply a practical toolkit of creative and design thinking techniques to address current and future HR challenges effectively.

TARGET AUDIENCE
This training program is ideal for:

• HR Officers seeking to improve the precision and reliability of their decisions.
• HR professionals aiming to strengthen critical thinking and problem-solving as core competencies.
• HR personnel looking for a refresher on analyzing, measuring, and assessing problems to develop effective solutions.

TRAINING METHODOLOGY
The course uses hands-on case studies to demonstrate the practical application of critical and creative thinking in solving HR problems. Participants will explore various tools and techniques, testing them in realistic scenarios to enhance learning. Pre- and post-course assessments will gauge participants’ skill development and the overall effectiveness of the training.

COURSE CONTENTS

Module 1 – Identifying Potential Risks and Future Problems

• Key Topics:
  • Recognizing potential risks and issues arising from organizational decisions affecting employees
  • Asking the right questions during investigations to collect relevant data while avoiding unnecessary information
  • Managing risks effectively
  • Applying decision-making strategies
  • Creating an optimal organizational climate

Module 2 – Critical Thinking Models & Processes

• Key Topics:
  • Using the critical thinking process to gather information, interpret it, and reach logical solutions
  • Generating ideas and solving problems creatively
  • Evaluating preferred influencing styles for success
  • Conducting stakeholder analysis: assessing power versus influence
  • Applying multiple models for effective problem-solving and decision-making

Module 3 – Clarifying Reality: Visualization and Fact-Finding

• Key Topics:
  • Using visualization and fact-finding to determine the root cause of problems
  • Avoiding premature conclusions
  • Applying visual thinking strategies
  • Framing challenges as opportunities rather than obstacles
  • Developing meeting strategies to measure, assess, and address risks

Module 4 – Critically Evaluating Alternatives

• Key Topics:
  • Evaluating alternative solutions using deductive and inductive reasoning, logic trees, and other tools
  • Creating checklists for new ideas
  • Selecting appropriate problem-solving language
  • Ensuring access to accurate information
  • Integrating reasoning with emotional intelligence

Module 5 – Interpreting Business-Focused Information

• Key Topics:
  • Interpreting information to make effective decisions and recommendations
  • Assessing the credibility of received data
  • Developing SMART objectives for actionable outcomes