Effective Problem Solving In An AI-Enabled World

Introduction

In a world marked by increasing complexity, rapid change, uncertainty, and digital disruption, effective decision-making demands more than intuition or experience alone. It requires structured approaches that uncover the real problems and their underlying causes, challenge assumptions, and encourage disciplined creativity through strong critical and analytical thinking skills. These competencies are essential not only for effective problem-solving, but also for improving work-related outcomes and driving sustainable organizational success.

In today’s environment, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a powerful thinking enabler. When applied responsibly, AI can support pattern recognition, broaden perspectives, test assumptions, and accelerate analysis. However, AI does not replace human judgement, ethics, or contextual understanding. Instead, it amplifies the quality of thinking, making critical and analytical thinking skills more important than ever. Critical thinking, as a cognitive process, involves refining one’s reasoning by examining underlying structures, evaluating evidence, and applying sound intellectual standards, especially when interpreting and validating AI-generated insights.

Contrary to common misconceptions, creativity, critical thinking, and analytical thinking are not innate talents possessed by a few; they are trainable skills accessible to all. This training program demystifies these thinking processes and demonstrates how, when, and why they can be applied effectively, both independently and in collaboration with AI tools. By providing practical frameworks and concrete steps, the course enables participants to reframe challenges, explore alternative perspectives, and generate well-reasoned solutions, whether at operational, tactical, or managerial levels.

The programme also clarifies expectations around responsible AI usage in decision-making, equipping participants with practical tools to evaluate AI outputs, mitigate bias, and maintain accountability. Participants will learn how to integrate AI into their thinking processes while fostering a culture that values curiosity, sound judgement, and ethical decision-making within their organizations.

Ultimately, this training enhances the ability of individuals, teams, and organizations to identify opportunities, solve complex problems, and make informed decisions in an AI-enabled workplace. Drawing on real-world case studies, participant experiences, and research-backed frameworks, the course builds awareness of each participant’s creative potential while strengthening their critical and analytical thinking capabilities. In a world defined by disruption, diversity, and intelligent technologies, this programme empowers individuals to apply creativity and critical thinking with purpose, confidence, and responsibility.

Objectives

• Unleash the power of your imagination and explore the creative nooks within yourself
• Acquire a toolbox of techniques to stimulate creative, critical and analytical thinking, transforming ordinary situations into opportunities for innovation
• Learn how to question assumptions and overcome mental roadblocks that hinder smart thinking
• Learn to break down complex problems and analyse information in a structured manner
• Master practical thinking tools that enhance critical analysis, enabling you to evaluate information and make informed decisions
• Develop strategic thinking skills, allowing you to see the bigger picture and make decisions that align with organizational goals
• Enable participants to apply Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a structured thinking aid to support problem definition, analysis, and option generation, while maintaining human judgement, ethical reasoning, and accountability in decision-making
• Develop participants’ ability to critically evaluate and validate AI-generated insights, by identifying assumptions, bias, limitations, and logical gaps, ensuring that AI outputs are used responsibly and enhance, not replace sound critical and analytical thinking

Learning Outcomes

• Participants will gain a deeper understanding of their creative potential, unlocking their imagination and accessing the latent creative ideas within themselves, boosting their ability to think outside the box
• Participants will leave the session with a practical set of creative thinking techniques that they can apply to everyday challenges, transforming routine situations into opportunities for innovation and growth
• Participants will learn how to challenge assumptions and dismantle mental barriers, enabling them to think more freely and engage in smart, innovative problem-solving
• Participants will master critical and analytical thinking tools, enhancing their ability to analyze and evaluate information objectively, leading to better decision-making and problem-solving
• Participants will develop the skills to think strategically, allowing them to see the broader context, make informed decisions, and align their efforts with organizational goals for long-term success
• Participants will demonstrate the ability to integrate AI tools into their critical and analytical thinking processes to enhance problem-solving quality, decision accuracy, and efficiency, while retaining clear ownership and accountability for decisions made
• Participants will be able to assess, challenge, and refine AI-generated outputs by applying critical thinking frameworks to detect bias, flawed reasoning, and contextual gaps, resulting in more reliable, ethical, and defensible decisions in the workplace

Key Content

Day 1

Module 1: Creativity is a Core Leadership Skill – Activating Creativity

• Recognizing creativity as a learnable skill, understanding the creative process, and exploring our innate ability to be creative
• Unpacking personality traits crucial for creativity and identifying the skills essential for fostering a creative environment
• Embracing creativity as a journey, emphasizing the importance of persistence, and exploring processes to build and strengthen our creative muscles
• Psychological Influences: Examining how past experiences shape our beliefs and impact our reasoning abilities

Activity: Engage in a variety of creativity exercises, including the whimsical Pet Drawing, Story-telling, and a moment of Personal Reflection

Module 2: The Creative Toolbox (How to Do Guide Part 1)

• Initiating a brainstorming session with basic rules and benefits
• Exploring various brainstorming techniques, including Alphabet Brainstorming, Brainwriting, The Charette Procedure, Crawford’s Slip Writing Method, Role-Storming, Reverse Brainstorm, and Circle Brainstorming
• Pros and Cons Debrief: Reflecting on the pros and cons of each technique through participant experiences

Activity: Engage in Alphabet Brainstorming, Brainwriting, and Role-Storming sessions to unleash creativity and critical thinking

Module 3: Evaluating Our Thinking Skills – From Creative to Critical Thinking Mode (How to Do Guide Part 2)

• Understanding why thinking critically is a valuable cognitive skill, with a focus on better decision-making and enhanced problem-solving
• Intellectual Values: Exploring the attributes of a good thinker, including attentiveness, curiosity, and being a motivated learner
• The three-step critical thinking process: Unpacking Analytical, Systemic and Metacognition thinking skills
• The Six Thinking Hats Strategy: A tool to view problems from different perspectives

Activity: Participate in a Group Discussion, complete an Individual Exercise, and reflect personally on the insights gained

Day 2

Module 4: The Analytical Mind – Zooming in on Problems (How to Guide Part 3)

• The importance of objective data in decision-making
• Methods for collecting data: surveys, research, observations, etc.
• Tools and techniques for data analysis (e.g., statistical tools, spreadsheets)
• Differentiating between qualitative and quantitative data
• Exploring the Logic Tree Model for problem analysis

Activity: Gathering and analysing relevant data, Logic Tree practical exercise

Module 5: The 5-Step Process to Problem Solving & Decision Making

• Problem Decoding: Unveiling the 5-step problem solving process using critical thinking, starting with problem identification through asking fundamental questions: Who? What? Why? When? Where? How?
• Reframing Magic: Transforming problem statements into goal-oriented frames
• Solution Crafting: Analyzing advantages and disadvantages, seeking feedback, and creating viable solutions
• Exploring Decision Making Frameworks

Activity: Group Activity, Case Studies

Module 6: The Role of AI in Human Thinking

• Difference between thinking tools vs thinking shortcuts
• Where AI helps: Pattern recognition, Option generation, Assumption testing
• Think First. Prompt Second: Problem Framing Canvas
• Analytical Thinking with AI
• Sample AI Prompts
• Problem Solving & Decision Making with AI
• Bias, Ethics & Responsible Use of AI in Thinking

Activity: Actual Problem-Solving Practical Session

Methodology

• Highly Interactive Lectures
• Videos
• Group Discussion
• Games
• Case Studies
• Personal Reflection

Target Audience

Team Leaders, Supervisors, Managers, Executives