How to solve important problems creatively, rigorously, and efficiently? This cours focuses on this topic, drawing upon methods used by leading strategy consulting firms, principles of design thinking, and insights from cognitive sciences.

Program content

1. Laying the ground

• How human beings make decisions: thinking fast and thinking slow
• The dark and bright sides of intuition: cognitive biases and insight
• Three approaches to methodical thinking: issue tree, hypothesis pyramid, and design thinking
• The 4S method for analyzing complex problems, developing solutions, and convincing stakeholders

2. Framing the project

• Clarifying the issue with the TOSCA framework
• The three dimensions of active listening: questioning, attentive listening, and reflexive listening
• Writing a project brief

3. Structuring your analysis

• Managing the project to develop an insightful solution
• The pyramid principle: issue trees and hypothesis pyramid
• Key principles to develop your analysis
• Collecting data: desktop analysis, interviews and surveys

4. Innovating with design thinking

• The key principles of design thinking
• Developing an innovative solution: a step-by-step approach

5. Writing an impactful report

• Communicating with your client during the writing process
• The consulting report dilemma: choosing the right format for your presentation
• Structuring your report smartly

6. Implementing the solution

• Convince and engage stakeholders
• The influence model: four building blocks of change"