1. Management Thinking Tools
For solving complex & ambiguous problems

2. 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

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

4. 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

5. Management Tools Often to help thinking Examples Spreadsheet
Process flow diagram

6. 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

7. Two Levels of thinking
Process Thinking
Meta Thinking

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

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

10. 2 Types of Thinking Tools
Collaborative tools
Visual tools
Improved Management Thinking

11. MTT Structure: the workshop
A two day workshop

12. MTT Structure: Project Planning

13. MTT Structure: Coaching

14. MTT Structure:Community of Practice

16. 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