Course Snippet

Critical thinking is the backbone of sound leadership and effective problem-solving. This 5-day course on Critical Thinking and Evidence-Based Decision-Making equips professionals with tools to question assumptions, assess data quality, and apply structured decision frameworks. Through real-world cases, labs, and a capstone project, participants will learn to reframe complex challenges, avoid bias traps, and generate creative solutions. Designed for managers, analysts, and project leaders, the program ensures faster, smarter, and more confident decisions that drive organizational success.

Introduction

In today’s fast-changing business environment, leaders and professionals face uncertainty and complex decisions. Traditional intuition-based methods are no longer sufficient; organizations now demand evidence-based decision-making and critical thinking skills. This course bridges theory with practice, showing how to balance speed with rigor, examine assumptions, and analyze quantitative and qualitative data to reach effective outcomes. Participants gain a competitive edge by mastering questioning techniques, bias detection, and integrative problem-solving, all within a structured framework that supports career growth, innovation, and organizational resilience.

Course Objectives

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

• Identify hidden assumptions and cognitive biases in workplace decisions.
• Formulate precise problem statements using structured frameworks.
• Apply questioning techniques to clarify goals and uncover solutions.
• Evaluate data quality and evidence to support recommendations.
• Develop multiple decision options using integrative thinking.
• Communicate evidence-based decisions clearly to stakeholders.
• Implement reflective routines to make critical thinking a lasting habit.

Target Audience

This course is ideal for:

• Team leaders and new managers transitioning into decision-making roles.
• Project managers, business analysts, and operations professionals.
• HR and finance managers responsible for organizational strategy.
• Professionals preparing for leadership roles in complex environments.

Benefits for the Organization

• Improves decision quality and reduces costly errors.
• Creates a shared problem-solving framework across departments.
• Enhances organizational resilience by encouraging diverse perspectives.
• Builds stronger teams with collaborative, evidence-based decision practices.

Benefits for the Trainee

• Increases confidence when facing complex or ambiguous problems.
• Provides ready-to-use templates for structured decision-making.
• Strengthens leadership and analytical credibility.
• Builds lasting habits for faster and more effective thinking.

Course Outline (5-Day Program)

Day 1 – Building the Critical Thinking Mindset

• Introduction to critical thinking as a professional skill
• Recognizing and overcoming the urgency trap
• Thinking like a scientist: adopting evidence-based skepticism
• Practical exercise: auditing personal assumptions

Day 2 – Observing and Framing Situations

• Changing perspectives: defamiliarizing familiar problems
• Identifying and reframing the right problems
• Writing effective and precise problem statements
• Zooming in and zooming out: when to narrow or broaden focus
• Case study: reframing a real-world organizational challenge

Day 3 – Mastering the Art of Questioning

• Using questioning as a critical thinking tool
• Four types of questions and their goals
• Evaluating and interrogating data sources
• Moving from “Why” to “How” for actionable outcomes
• Workshop: building a question tree for workplace challenges

Day 4 – Engaging with Diverse Perspectives

• Becoming more open-minded in decision-making
• Involving others to disrupt and enrich your thinking
• Turning disagreement into constructive learning opportunities
• Avoiding pitfalls in group discussions: focusing on data
• Listening with empathy to enhance collaboration
• Interactive activity: red-teaming and perspective swapping

Day 5 – Analyzing Information & Making Better Decisions

• Three approaches to improving decision-making quality
• Thinking like successful leaders: integrative solutions
• Recognizing when experience can mislead decisions
• Stopping overthinking: balancing analysis with intuition
• Framework for rational decisions in uncertain environments
• Capstone project: applying the full critical thinking process to a real or simulated case

Course Duration & Format

• Duration: 5 days (30 hours total)
• Format: Instructor-led, with group work, case studies, and capstone project
• Delivery: In-person (Dubai, Istanbul, Riyadh) and live online

Instructor Information

Expert in leadership, decision-making, and applied critical thinking.

FAQs

Q1: What is the main outcome of this course on critical thinking?

Participants gain structured frameworks and tools for faster, evidence-based decisions.

Q2: Who should attend a critical thinking and decision-making course?

Managers, project leaders, and professionals facing complex, high-stakes decisions.

Q3: Does the course include practical tools for evidence-based decision-making?

Yes, you’ll receive templates such as problem statement canvases and decision briefs.

Q4: How is this course different from general problem-solving training?

It combines data analysis, bias checks, and structured questioning for real-world decisions.

Q5: Can the course be tailored to specific industries or company challenges?

Yes, capstone projects and examples can be customized to match your sector.

Q6: Is prior data or analytics experience required for this training?

No, the course is designed for all professionals and provides step-by-step guidance.

Q7: What certification is provided after completing this decision-making course?

A Certificate of Completion from iOpener Training Group is awarded.