Enhancing Personal Innovation and Problem Solving

A one-day learning event presented by Gurteen Knowledge and Bizmedia

27th October 2004, Novotel London West, Hammersmith, London, UK

Get to the future fast! Adapt or die! Be more flexible and innovative ... businesses are constantly being told. However, it is not businesses, but people who have to adapt, do things differently, respond flexibly, be innovative. And we do not always have the tools we need.

This workshop examines the skills needed, not just in formal problem solving and innovation processes, but in everyday situations so that individuals can enable their teams, departments and companies to be more effective, more flexible, more entrepreneurial, more able to cope with the complexities of today’s marketplace.

In the first part of the workshop, Sheila Moorcroft will help participants understand their our own, and others’, approaches to problem solving, generating ideas, presenting knowledge and making the case; and how these can be used to best, and worst, effect. It will help participants understand why some projects and tasks go well, and others are doomed to repeat past mistakes.

Secondly, participants will practise some of the skills needed for different aspects of problem solving and innovation and from idea generation through to effective listening to move projects forward.

Outline of the day

• Introductions and aims
  
  
• Brief review of own strengths and preferences in thinking tools used in different tasks
  
  
• Detailed outline of ‘Landscape of the mind’ conceptual framework of thinking skills; the strengths and appropriate uses for different skills; how personal preferences can support or undermine different tasks
  
  
• Series of brief outlines and practical small group work on different creative and problem solving tools for:
  • Generating ideas
  • Exploring problems
  • Mapping connections, impacts and implications
  • Assessing ideas and solutions
  
  
  
• Making strategic conversations work - Introduction to and group exercise in listening and sharing ideas effectively
  
  
• Review, feedback and close

The Facilitator

Sheila Moorcroft has many years experience helping organisations in the private, public and voluntary sectors respond to change more effectively – both by understanding better what is going on on the outside, and developing the skills to respond on the inside.

Sheila started her career in strategic research, but moved on to focus on futures and foresight with a particular emphasis on social change, creativity and personal development - the ‘soft technologies’ of adapting to change.

Previously Sheila was a Director at Applied Futures helping companies in food, retailing, leisure and telecoms sectors to capitalise on changing values and lifestyles. Prior to that, she worked for SRI International, managing strategic research services and trend analysis programmes. Sheila regularly speaks at conferences and management training workshops.

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Registration
Attending this Learning Event costs just £495 + VAT (discounts are available - see booking form) and includes:

• Attendance at the event
• 3 course lunch
• Morning and afternoon refreshments

To register online - please click the button below. You can pay by credit card or request an invoice.

Online Registration
To register by mail/fax - please download the   PDF version of the registration form .

• Adobe® Acrobat Reader is needed to view and print PDF files.
• Fax your completed form to  +44 (0) 118 960 2821
• Mail your completed form to:
  Conference Registration
  Bizmedia Ltd
  Royal Station Court
  Station Road
  Twyford
  Reading
  Berkshire RG10 9NF

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