Problem-Solving and Decision Making

Dr. Jeff Butterfield holds a PhD from the University of Texas-Austin and an MBA from Indiana University, and currently is a faculty member in the Information Systems department at Western Kentucky University. Previously, Dr. Butterfield worked as an electronics engineer with several Fortune 500 companies. He quickly discovered that his writing and public-speaking abilities contributed much more to his professional success than his technical skills. This important discovery has significantly influenced his teaching and Dr. Butterfield has spent more than 15 years in higher education helping technical students develop professional skills. As technology becomes more tightly integrated with business functions, students with well-developed soft skills will enjoy a strong competitive advantage. Dr. Butterfield has worked with Cengage to develop the SOFT SKILLS FOR A DIGITAL WORKPLACE series. These titles are designed to complement any course you teach, regardless of the subject.

Part 1: Identifying and Defining Problems
1: Understanding Problem Solving
2: Analyzing Problems
3: Working with Problem Owners and Stakeholders
4: Developing Effective Problem Statements
5: Determining Causes
6: Simplifying Complex Problems
7: Indentifying and Managing Risks
8: Avoiding Problem-Solving Traps
Part 2: Solving the Problem
9: Gathering and Analyzing Data
10: Developing Alternatives
11: Evaluating Options
12: Implementing the Solution
13: Monitoring and Managing the Solution
14: Verifying the Solution
15: Using Adaptive Techniques
16: Developing Ethical Solutions
Part 3: Thinking Critically
17: Understanding Critical Thinking
18: Identifying Arguments
19: Assessing the Credibility of an Argument
20: Exploring Weaknesses in an Argument
21: Overcoming Obstacles to Critical Thinking
22: Avoiding Deductive Reasoning Fallacies
23: Avoiding Inductive Reasoning Fallacies
24: Becoming a Critical Thinker
Part 4: Group Decision Making and Problem Solving
25: Understanding Group Dynamics
26: Evolving from a Group to a Team
27: Using Divergent Thinking
28: Using Convergent Thinking
29: Reaching Closure
30: Avoiding Common Group Traps
31: Working with Large Groups
32: Building Sustainable Agreements
Part 5: Decision Support Tools
33: Understanding Decision Support Systems
34: Modeling Decisions Quantitatively
35: Describing Data Objectively
36: Working with Formulas and Functions
37: Performing What-If Analyses
38: Weighing Factors
39: Creating Decision Trees
40: Using Graphics to Display Data