Decision Making and Business Analysis Master class

Why Attend

Robust decision making, as well as the ability to effectively analyze business processes, are both essential skills for professionals at all levels. However, few professionals receive any formal training on decision making models and structured businesses analysis approaches. This course is designed to provide participants with the knowledge and skills to address these gaps.

This course is divided into two closely related sections. In the first section of the course, attendees will learn about different business decision models and how these models can be applied in practice. In the second half of the course, participants will learn about fundamental thinking processes that can be used to structure, analyze, and solve business problems.

By attending this course, participants will be equipped with the skills and techniques needed to better analyze their business and improve the quality of their organization’s decision making.

Overview

Course Outline

Schedule & Fees

Course Methodology

The course uses a mix of interactive techniques, such as presentations by the consultant, case studies, role plays, educational games, and group exercises to apply the knowledge acquired throughout the course.

Course Objectives

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

Explain the principles of good decision making
Use data to make informed and better decisions
Implement risk-based decision making techniques
Develop essential financial literacy skills
Use tools to implement successful decisions
Apply critical thinking techniques to analyze their current business environment
Structure a problem and break it down into smaller independent issues
Create a work plan that prioritizes resources and focuses team efforts
Analyze and interpret complex data
Build structured arguments to communicate findings

Target Audience

Managers, department heads, and business professionals who are involved in decision making, planning, analysis, and developing strategies for their own departments as well as the organization.

Target Competencies

⦁    Decision making
⦁    Risk management
⦁    Risk assessment
⦁    Evaluation
⦁    Budgeting
⦁    Analytical thinking
⦁    Financial decision making
⦁    Problem management
⦁    Problem solving ability
⦁    Critical thinking
⦁    Analysis of data

The principles of decision making

The standard decision-making model
The decision-making spectrum
Townsend’s rules
The RAPID model

Recommend
Agree
Perform
Input
Decide

Using data for better and informed decisions

Lewin’s force field analysis of support and opposition

Supporting forces
Restricting forces

Scenario analysis and charting possible futures

Risk factor
Cost factor

Mapping stakeholders’ reactions
Level of stakeholder power
Level of stakeholder interest
Dealing with the politics of decisions

Risk-based decision making

Risk impact/probability chart

The two primary dimensions

Probability
Impact

Creating the chart using excel
Decision tree analysis

Decision points
Chance points
Application exercise

Financial literacy for decision makers

Capital budgeting and cost of capital
Accounting Rate of Return (ARR)
Payback Period (PP)
Net Present Value (NPV)
Internal Rate of Return (IRR)

Implementing your decisions successfully

Round’s Trap model

Task
Resources
Arithmetic
Priorities

Shewhart’s PDCA model

Plan
Do
Check
Act

Lessons learned

Business analysis overview

Business analysis scope of work
Your role as an internal consultant
Active data gathering
Generating creative solutions
Intelligence versus creativity
Choosing between alternatives

Thinking strategically

The three big strategic questions
Key elements of a successful strategy
Strategy and the quest for competitive advantage
Porter's 5 forces impact Potential Industry Earnings (PIE)
Creating and capturing value
Conducting SWOT analysis
Fundamentals of PEDESTL framework

Structuring problems

The importance of structuring problems
Defining the right issue
Dividing issues into manageable parts
The use of logic trees in problem solving
Prioritizing and planning
Eliminating non-essential issues
Prioritization methodologies
Building an effective work plan

Conducting analyses

Getting the right data
Types of research
Primary research development
Secondary research development
Data analysis

Communicating and presenting

Turning data into findings
Building effective arguments
Communicating findings by telling a 'story'
Story telling elements
Designing powerful presentations
Presenting to senior management

$6975

Ottawa

Country: Canada

Duration: Two weeks

Date: 18–29 Aug 2025

$6975

Washington DC

Decision Making and Business Analysis Master class

Overview

Course Outline

Schedule & Fees

Course Methodology

Course Objectives

Target Audience

Target Competencies

The principles of decision making

Using data for better and informed decisions

Risk-based decision making

Financial literacy for decision makers

Implementing your decisions successfully

Business analysis overview

Thinking strategically

Structuring problems

Conducting analyses

Communicating and presenting

$6975

Country: Canada

Duration: Two weeks

Date: 18–29 Aug 2025

$6975

Country: USA

Duration: Two weeks

Date: 15–26 Jun 2026