Clarity Under Pressure: Diagnosing the Right Problem

Strengthen your leadership by mastering the often-overlooked skills of diagnosing, evaluating, and solving complex problems. As challenges grow more complex, it is essential to pause, reflect, and resist rushing to solutions before thoroughly understanding the problem. Explore how analytical and creative thinking drive innovation and how applying a structured process can uncover the deeper issues at play.

Course Snapshot

• Understand the full scope of a problem before jumping to solutions
• Explore how biases and assumptions cloud problem diagnosis
• Apply a structured, step-by-step approach to complex issue analysis
• Use analytical and creative thinking to uncover root causes
• Practice diagnosing real-world challenges in high-stakes settings

Key Benefits

• Learn to identify, frame, and articulate complex organizational problems
• Develop structured thinking habits that improve clarity and decision-making
• Recognize and mitigate cognitive biases that lead to poor solutions
• Strengthen your ability to verify that you are solving the right problem

Instructor

Markus Baer

Professor of Organizational Behavior, & Vice Dean of Degree and Non Degree Executive Education

WashU Olin Business School

Location & Modality

In-Person, Charles F. Knight Center on WashU's Danforth Campus

Earn Your Certificate

2 elective units toward an advanced certificate

For Federal Employees

ECQ 1 – Leading Change

Note

Formerly called Solving Difficult Problems (St. Louis)

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