Problem Solving, and Critical ThinkingProblem Solving, and Critical ThinkingArmed Forces Academy of Health SciencesArmed Forces Academy of Health Sciences

Leadership CourseLeadership Course

““Leadership is solving problems. The day Leadership is solving problems. The day soldiers stop bringing you their soldiers stop bringing you their

problems is the day you have stopped problems is the day you have stopped leading them. They have either lost leading them. They have either lost

confidence that you can help or confidence that you can help or concluded you do not care. Either case concluded you do not care. Either case

is a failure of leadership.”is a failure of leadership.”

-Colin Powell-Colin Powell

PROBLEM-SOLVING PROBLEM-SOLVING

OVERVIEWOVERVIEW Decision-making, Problem Solving Decision-making, Problem Solving

and Critical Thinkingand Critical Thinking

Theoretical ApproachesTheoretical Approaches

Critical Elements Critical Elements

Individual Vulnerabilities Individual Vulnerabilities

Decision-making in OrganizationsDecision-making in Organizations

DelegationDelegation

DECISION MAKINGDECISION MAKING Process of identifying Process of identifying

& selecting one course & selecting one course

of action from several of action from several

alternativesalternatives

Choice eliminates Choice eliminates

uncertaintyuncertainty

PROBLEM-SOLVINGPROBLEM-SOLVING

Systematic process that focuses on Systematic process that focuses on analyzing a difficult situation and analyzing a difficult situation and includes a decision making stepincludes a decision making step

CRITICAL THINKINGCRITICAL THINKING Purposeful & outcome directedPurposeful & outcome directed Based on research, data gathering, Based on research, data gathering,

reasoning and creative analysisreasoning and creative analysis

Theoretical Approaches to Problem-Theoretical Approaches to Problem-Solving and Decision MakingSolving and Decision Making

Traditional Problem-Solving:Traditional Problem-Solving: Identify the ProblemIdentify the Problem

Gather data to analyze causes/consequencesGather data to analyze causes/consequences

Explore alternative solutionsExplore alternative solutions

Evaluate the alternativesEvaluate the alternatives

Select the appropriate solutionSelect the appropriate solution

Implement the solutionImplement the solution

Evaluate the ResultsEvaluate the Results

Theoretical Approaches to Problem-Theoretical Approaches to Problem-Solving and Decision MakingSolving and Decision Making

ManagerialManagerial Decision-MakingDecision-Making Set objectivesSet objectives

Search for alternativesSearch for alternatives

Evaluate alternativesEvaluate alternatives

ChooseChoose

ImplementImplement

Follow-up and controlFollow-up and control

Theoretical Approaches to Problem-Theoretical Approaches to Problem-Solving and Decision MakingSolving and Decision Making

Nursing ProcessNursing Process AssessAssess PlanPlan ImplementImplement EvaluateEvaluate

Theoretical Approaches to Problem-Theoretical Approaches to Problem-Solving and Decision MakingSolving and Decision Making

Intuitive Decision-MakingIntuitive Decision-Making

Gather patient dataGather patient data

Possible nursing diagnosis and Possible nursing diagnosis and

interventionsinterventions

Analyze, synthesize and exercise Analyze, synthesize and exercise

judgmentjudgment

Implement, follow through and Implement, follow through and

evaluateevaluate

CRITICAL ELEMENTS IN PROBLEM-CRITICAL ELEMENTS IN PROBLEM-SOLVING AND DECISION MAKINGSOLVING AND DECISION MAKING

Define objectives clearlyDefine objectives clearly Gather data carefullyGather data carefully Generate many Generate many

alternativesalternatives Think logicallyThink logically Choose and act Choose and act

decisivelydecisively

OVERCOMING INDIVIDUAL OVERCOMING INDIVIDUAL VULNERABILITY IN DECISION-MAKINGVULNERABILITY IN DECISION-MAKING

ValuesValues

Life ExperienceLife Experience

Individual PreferenceIndividual Preference

Individual Ways of Thinking and Individual Ways of Thinking and

Decision-MakingDecision-Making

DELEGATIONDELEGATION

COMMON DELEGATION ERRORSCOMMON DELEGATION ERRORS

Under-delegatingUnder-delegating

Over-delegatingOver-delegating

Improperly delegatingImproperly delegating

Effective DelegationEffective Delegation

Plan ahead Plan ahead

Identify necessary skills and Identify necessary skills and

levelslevels

Select most capable personnelSelect most capable personnel

Communicate goal clearlyCommunicate goal clearly

Empower the delegateEmpower the delegate

Effective DelegationEffective Delegation

Set deadlines and monitor Set deadlines and monitor

progressprogress

Model the role: provide guidanceModel the role: provide guidance

Evaluate performanceEvaluate performance

Reward accomplishmentReward accomplishment

SUMMARYSUMMARY Decision-making, Problem Solving Decision-making, Problem Solving

and Critical Thinkingand Critical Thinking Theoretical ApproachesTheoretical Approaches Critical Elements Critical Elements Individual Vulnerabilities Individual Vulnerabilities Decision-making in OrganizationsDecision-making in Organizations DelegationDelegation