Management Thinking Tools

For solving complex & ambiguous problems

Introduction

Purpose

Explain & sell Management Thinking Tools MTT

Identify the business needs it meets

Provide a taste of what the workshops will be like

Process 2Hrs

Managers, Their Work & Their Thinking

This diagram illustrates 4 main elements of a manager’s thinking & work.

Vernier Calipers

An investigative exercise From looking at the calipers what can we find out about

each of the elements of the worker and the work?

What the tool tells us about the work and the worker

Management Tools

Often to help thinking Examples

Spreadsheet Process flow diagram

Manager’s Business needs

Three main areas Communication Construction Self Reflection

Tools to help managers in each area Increase innovation & creativity Amplify thinking Find solutions Improve interactions Increase efficiencies

Two Levels of thinking

Process Thinking

Meta Thinking

The ‘Issue Spiral’ (A Thinking Tool)

A tool for Process & Meta thinking A 4 phase model

1. Exploration 2. Design 3. Build 4. Evaluation

Exploration & Analysis

Exploration Manager’s issues

Advantages? Useful for?

Analysis Bunching issues into topics

Advantages? Useful for?

Topic A Topic B Topic C

2 Types of Thinking Tools

Visual tools

Collaborative tools

Improved Management Thinking

MTT Structure: the workshop

A two day workshop

MTT Structure: Project Planning

MTT Structure: Coaching

MTT Structure:Community of Practice

What Next?What Next?

3. Projects3. Projects

SupportSupport

1. Action

SkillsSkillsIsolation

Management Thinking Tools (MTT):Focus Group

During the final session of the program those attending agreed on the following principles for developing some ongoing learning of management thinking tools.

1. Action research based learning:- Real life case studies based on actual Fairfax work projects2. A community of practice:- The team would meet as a ‘community of practice’, providing collaborative support and learning3. Full life cycle projects:- If possible the team would be involved with a project from start to finish4. Theoretical input:- Relevant theory would be supplied by a facilitator to add to the skills already learnt

CommunityCommunity

LocationLocation

2. People

TeamTeam

TheoryTheoryNames

4. Relevant to

Case studiesInterdisciplinary

Coaching