Organizational Effectiveness: Creative Problem Solving & Decision Making


This in-person, instructor-led program will be presented in one full-day session being held Tuesday, June 17th from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm at the NEPPA Training Center (200 New Estate Road, Littleton MA 01460).

NEPPA has partnered with Robert J. Awkward, Ph.D., from Framingham State University, to provide high-caliber leadership training focused on decision making and problem-solving techniques essential to building and maintaining an effective organizational structure. Dr. Awkward’s progressive, diverse and successful human resources experiences in varied industries, and in academia, makes him an invaluable resource on this topic. This course will cover creative approaches to solving problems that arise in group settings, as well as, strategies to make effective decisions, avoiding group polarization and group-think. The instructor will highlight real life experiences and use an interactive approach throughout this session. 

Who Should Attend

This program is designed for:

  • General Managers
  • Directors
  • Supervisors
  • Team Leaders and Emerging Leaders
  • Administrative Professionals
  • Project Managers

Topics Covered

  • The Nature of Decision Making
    –  Defining Effective Decision Making
    –  Types of Decisions
    –  Decision Making Conditions
  • The Rational Approach to Decision Making
    –  Evidence-Based Decision Making
  • Behavioral Approaches to Decision Making
    –  Political Forces in Decision Making
    –  Intuition
    –  Escalation of Committment
    –  Risk Propensity and Decision Making
    –  Ethics and Decision Making
  • Group Decision Making
    –  Group Polarization
    –  Group Think
  • Group Problem Solving
    –      Brainstorming
    –  The Nominal Group Technique
    –  The Delphi Technique
  • Creative Problem Solving and Decision Making

Agenda

Agenda details are subject to change.                                                                

 

Tuesday, June 17, 2025

9:00am            Welcome & Open Dialogue

9:10am                Decision Making & Problem Solving Overview

9:15am                The Nature of Decision Making

  • Definitions
  • Effective Decision Making
  • Video: “The Elements of Good Decision Making” (4:46)
  • Types of Decisions
  • Characteristics of Programmed and Non-programmed Decisions
  • Decision Making Conditions

9:45am                Characteristics of Decision Makers

  • What is Required for Decision Making
  • Decision Makers Style

10:00am              The Rational Approach to Decision Making

  • Assumptions
  • The Rational Approach
  • Strengths and Weaknesses

10:10am              The Behavioral Approaches to Decision Making

  • The Administrative Model
  • Bounded Rationality
  • Other Forces in Decision Making

10:30am              Break

10:45am              An Integrated Approach to Decision Making

10:55am              Video: “How to Make Better Decisions – Decision Making Mental Models – Using Intuition| Tim Ferris” (5:41)

11:05am              Decision Making Small Group Work 

11:30am              Group Decision Making in Organizations

  • GroupThink
  • The GroupThink Process
  • Decision Making Effects and Decision Quality
  • Prescriptions for Preventing GroupThink
  • Participation in Decision Making
  • Group Problem Solving Techniques

12:00pm                 Lunch

12:45pm              Group Problem Solving Activity

1:15pm                Creativity, Problem Solving & Decision Making

  • The Creative Individual
  • The Creative Process
  • Enhancing Creativity in Organizations
  • Video: “Creative Thinking – how to get out of the box and generate ideas| Giovanni Corazzi at TEDx Roma” (13:38)

1:45pm                Simple Creative Activity

2:00pm                Break

2:15pm                Video: “Before You Decide: 3 Steps to Better Decision Making| Matthew Confer| TEDx Oak Lawn” (12:52)

2:40pm                Personal Decision Making Action Plan

2:50pm                Concluding Thoughts & Certificates

3:00pm                Program Ends

About the Instructor 

Robert J. Awkward, Ph.D

Robert J. Awkward, Ph.D

Robert J. Awkward is the Program Coordinator and Academic Advisor and serves as a Visiting Professor of Human Resource Management for the Framingham State University Master of Human Resources (M.H.R.) program. In addition, Bob is also a tenured Professor of Business and Economics at Middlesex Community College (MCC). However, Bob is currently on a professional leave of absence from MCC, which enables him to serve as the Assistant Commissioner for Academic Effectiveness for the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education. In this role, Bob is responsible for leading the advancement of a culture of institutional assessment and open educational resources for the public higher education system. Bob possesses a Ph.D. in Higher Education from the University of Massachusetts Boston; a M.Ed. in Human Resources Development from Boston University; and both a M.S. in Economic Policy & Planning and a B.A. in Political Science from Northeastern University.

Registration

To register, please click the button below. Upon completion of the Program, participants will receive a Certificate of Completion from NEPPA. Registration fees include coffee and lunch. If you have any dietary restrictions or considerations, please make note on your registration.

 

Registration fees are as follows:

NEPPA Members: $289
Non-Members: $585 

Register Now

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations are accepted until two weeks prior to the start of the class (June 3, 2025). Substitutions may be made at any time prior to the start of the class.

Questions?

Please contact training@neppa.org or call the office at (978) 540-2200.

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