Management Thinking Tools For solving complex & ambiguous problems

Introduction Purpose Process Explain & sell Management Thinking Tools MTT Identify the business needs it meets Provide a taste of what the workshops will be like Process 2Hrs

Managers, Their Work & Their Thinking This diagram illustrates 4 main elements of a manager’s thinking & work.

Vernier Calipers An investigative exercise From looking at the calipers what can we find out about each of the elements of the worker and the work? What the tool tells us about the work and the worker

Management Tools Often to help thinking Examples Spreadsheet Process flow diagram

Manager’s Business needs Three main areas Communication Construction Self Reflection Tools to help managers in each area Increase innovation & creativity Amplify thinking Find solutions Improve interactions Increase efficiencies

Two Levels of thinking Process Thinking Meta Thinking

The ‘Issue Spiral’ (A Thinking Tool) A tool for Process & Meta thinking A 4 phase model 1. Exploration 2. Design 3. Build 4. Evaluation

Exploration & Analysis Manager’s issues Advantages? Useful for? Analysis Bunching issues into topics Advantages? Useful for? Topic A Topic B Topic C

2 Types of Thinking Tools Collaborative tools Visual tools Improved Management Thinking

MTT Structure: the workshop A two day workshop

MTT Structure: Project Planning

MTT Structure: Coaching

MTT Structure:Community of Practice

Management Thinking Tools (MTT): Focus Group During the final session of the program those attending agreed on the following principles for developing some ongoing learning of management thinking tools. 1. Action research based learning:- Real life case studies based on actual Fairfax work projects 2. A community of practice:- The team would meet as a ‘community of practice’, providing collaborative support and learning 3. Full life cycle projects:- If possible the team would be involved with a project from start to finish 4. Theoretical input:- Relevant theory would be supplied by a facilitator to add to the skills already learnt What Next? 2. People 1. Action Location Skills Names Isolation Theory 4. Relevant to Community Coaching 3. Projects Interdisciplinary Case studies Team Support