Become a Strategic Decision Maker and A Proactive Risk Manager

Become a Strategic Decision Maker and A Proactive Risk Manager

Skill Level: Intermediate

Course Overview: 

This intensive one-day program delivers the critical frameworks and methodologies professionals need to elevate the quality and impact of their strategic decisions, especially in complex and uncertain environments. Participants will gain practical skills in rapidly identifying, assessing, and responding to organizational risks, integrating these activities directly into their decision-making process. The course emphasizes overcoming common cognitive biases to ensure clear, objective judgment. It is designed for managers, team leads, and key personnel who need to quickly master the integration of high-stakes decision-making and foundational risk management principles.

Course Objectives:

1. Apply a structured decision-making framework to resolve a complex business problem within the day.

2. Identify and immediately counteract at least three major cognitive biases that impair rational judgment.

3. Design a rapid organizational risk assessment process for new projects or initiatives.

4. Differentiate between and appropriately utilize the four primary risk response strategies (Avoid, Reduce, Transfer, Accept).

5. Develop a basic risk register template and populate it with relevant organizational risks.

6. Articulate the connection between risk tolerance and strategic decision-making in high-pressure scenarios.

7. Summarize key decisions and their associated risks for clear stakeholder communication.

Course Outline: 

Module 1: The Core of High-Impact Decision-Making

1. Structured vs. Intuitive Decision Models (The 4-Step Process)

2. Defining Objectives and Framing the Problem

3. Cognitive Bias Workshop: Identifying and Counteracting Decision Traps

4. Decision Criteria Weighting and Prioritization

Module 2: Foundational Risk Management

1. Introduction to Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) Concepts

2. Establishing and Understanding Risk Appetite

3. The Rapid Risk Management Cycle: Identify, Analyze, Respond

4. Categorizing Risks (Strategic, Operational, Financial)

Module 3: Risk Assessment and Treatment

1. Quick Techniques for Risk Identification (e.g., Brainstorming, Interviews)

2. Qualitative Risk Analysis: Impact vs. Likelihood Matrix

3. Developing and Selecting the Right Risk Response (The Four T's)

4. Creating a High-Level Risk Register

Module 4: Integration and Application

1. Integrating Risk Data into the Final Decision Matrix

2. Decision-Making Under Uncertainty and Ambiguity

3. Monitoring Key Decisions and Implementing Controls

4. Case Study and Action Planning Workshop