IB007-15 Problem-Solving in Organisations
Introductory description
This is a core module for WBS Foundation Year students.
Problem-Solving is a core activity in all our daily lives, and there are many ways in which we naturally approach problems we face. Some of these approaches may be flawed, for instance when we fail to realise the biased ways we are looking at the world (biases in decision-making), considering too many options (maximising versus satisficing), failing to see the perspective of others (empathy and perspective taking), or considering the unintended or harmful downstream consequences of our actions (ethics and systems-thinking). We also often get stuck in our normal patterns of thinking and don’t look for opportunities to do things differently (creative-problem-solving). Through this module, you will learn theory and techniques that will help you sidestep these issues and become better problem-solvers, and in doing so, also improve your communication, teamwork and leadership skills.
Module aims
To equip students with the capacity to effectively communicate, solve problems and be creative and innovative in their work, learning and other daily tasks. Problem-solving skills can improve students' success in the classroom, in their daily lives and, more importantly, in their careers. Thus, the module will establish a valuable foundation-level capability that will help students improve their skills and raise their confidence levels for degree-level study, regardless of their chosen course.
Specific aims of the module include:
To promote an understanding of key definitions, concepts and theories in regards to organisational problem-solving.
To provide students with a foundational understanding of effective communication in organisations in order to facilitate decision making and problem-solving.
To promote an understanding of the key ways a leader can facilitate problem-solving.
To encourage recognition and understanding of common pitfalls or challenges in decision making, such as biases and ethical issues.
To encourage students to approach problems in a creative and innovative way.
To develop skills in solving problems as individuals as well as in a team.
To facilitate an understanding of the importance of creativity and innovation to organisations and society
To build students' confidence in applying problem-solving techniques, both as individuals and in teams.
To develop related personal skills such as leadership, teamwork and communication.
To introduce students to the field of social science, and to familiarise them with asking questions/delivering answers through research in this field.
Outline syllabus
This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.
Lecture topics may include but are not limited to:
General communication
Conflict
Negotiation
Being a leader
Motivation (leading others and leading yourself)
Followership
General decision-making
Biases in decision-making
Ethical decision-making
Introduction to creativity and the creative person
Creative problem solving skills
Creativity in teams
Team creativity strategies
Innovation in organisations
Entrepreneurship
Innovation in society
Learning outcomes
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
- Define and accurately use different problem-solving concepts and strategies (e.g., creative problem-solving, critical thinking, systems thinking).
- Accurately identify common decision making biases.
- Differentiate between effective and ineffective behaviours in organisations related to common organisational practices, such as communication, teamwork, leadership, and followership.
- Situational awareness of problems and opportunities that require different problem-solving techniques.
- Creative problem-solving skills, including exploring problems/opportunities, generating ideas, evaluating and implementing ideas.
- Metacognition to recognize when they may fall into common decision making biases.
Indicative reading list
‘12 Cognitive Biases Explained - How to Think Better and More Logically Removing Bias - YouTube’ (no date).
‘A Deeper Understanding of Creativity at Work’ (2023) Harvard Business Review.
Buchanan, D.A. and Huczynski, A. (2019) Organizational behaviour. 10 edition. Harlow, England: Pearson.
Chmiel, N. (2008) An introduction to work and organizational psychology: a European perspective. 2nd ed. Oxford: Blackwell Pub.
Grant, A.M. (2021) Think again: the power of knowing what you don’t know. London: WH Allen.
Grint, K. (2010) Leadership: a very short introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
‘Harvard Business School’s Linda Hill on Practical Skills for Today’s Leaders’ (no date).
Seelig, T. (2012) Ingenius. HarperOne.
The Secret to Leading Highly Collaborative Teams (2023) Harvard Business Review.
What does an effective leader look like? | News | Warwick Business School (no date).
Subject specific skills
Apply key communication techniques to effectively work on problems and present solutions.
Demonstrate leadership and followership skills.
Apply techniques to avoid common decision making errors (e.g., biases, unethical decisions).
Effectively apply the individual creative process to solve problems.
Effectively work together in teams to solve problems.
Transferable skills
Decide when and how to use different communication techniques.
Apply Leadership and followership skills.
Apply creative problem-solving skills.
Study time
| Type | Required |
|---|---|
| Lectures | 10 sessions of 2 hours (13%) |
| Seminars | 9 sessions of 1 hour (6%) |
| Private study | 48 hours (32%) |
| Assessment | 74 hours (49%) |
| Total | 151 hours |
Private study description
Private Study.
Costs
No further costs have been identified for this module.
You do not need to pass all assessment components to pass the module.
Assessment group A3
| Weighting | Study time | Eligible for self-certification | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual Assignment | 60% | 44 hours | Yes (extension) |
| Group Presentation (15 CATS) | 20% | 15 hours | No |
| Weekly Quiz | 20% | 15 hours | No |
Feedback on assessment
Feedback will be provided via my.wbs.
There is currently no information about the courses for which this module is core or optional.