Program Outline
Solve Problems Using Structure
Defining the Problem
Clarify what question to answer and what factors to consider at the start of problem solving

Why this matter?
No matter how great of a problem solver you are, your talents will go nowhere if you’re solving the wrong problem. Great problem solving begins by defining problems in a structured way — even when you don’t have all the info.
Learning Objectives
- Use AI to enhance how you conceptualize, draft, and tailor your communications
What participants will do together
- Fill out a Problem Definition Worksheet for a complex problem
- Practice how to surface misaligned assumptions by comparing worksheets
- Identify how to use Problem Definition Worksheets in real life
Solve Problems Using Structure
Introduction to Issue Trees
Break down complex problems into manageable parts using issue trees

Why this matter?
As you advance in your career, you must lead increasingly complex and ambiguous situations. Knowing how to structure open-ended problems is a must.
Learning Objectives
- Use AI to enhance how you conceptualize, draft, and tailor your communications
What participants will do together
- Review what an issue tree is
- Strengthen intuition around what makes a good tree by evaluating multiple versions
- Create a new issue tree from scratch for a business problem
Solve Problems Using Structure
Prioritizing Issues
Narrow down the focus of problem solving in a structured way
Why this matter?
One of the hardest things to do when solving problems under a tight deadline is prioritizing what to work on. Identify key parts of the answer upfront to reach a good-enough solution fast.
Learning Objectives
- Use AI to enhance how you conceptualize, draft, and tailor your communications
What participants will do together
- Discuss why prioritization is tricky
- Practice a structured process to prioritize issues to solve
Solve Problems Using Structure
Maximizing Impact
Use the 80/20 principle to drive the most impact given limited time and resources

Why this matter?
The best problem solvers work smart: they relentlessly zero in on areas where they can have the biggest impact given limited time and resources.
Learning Objectives
- Use AI to enhance how you conceptualize, draft, and tailor your communications
What participants will do together
- Review the 80/20 principle
- Identify leverage points in a business scenario
- Practice taking action to maximize impact
Solve Problems Creatively
Expansionary & Contractionary Thinking
Use two contrasting modes of thinking to be both creative and practical in problem solving

Why this matter?
Great problem solvers deliberately switch how they think in different phases of problem solving to promote both creativity and practicality.
Learning Objectives
- Use AI to enhance how you conceptualize, draft, and tailor your communications
What participants will do together
- Apply expansionary and contractionary modes of thinking to one business scenario
- Evaluate how you might use these modes in your own role
- Exchange feedback, reflections, and plans to apply it in real life
Solve Problems Creatively
Reducing Cognitive Bias
Address common biases that impede effective problem solving

Why this matter?
Humans are prone to making snap judgments and jumping to conclusions, which leads to suboptimal solutions to a problem. Great problem solvers recognize and know how to handle these biases.
Learning Objectives
- Use AI to enhance how you conceptualize, draft, and tailor your communications
What participants will do together
- Explore 4 common cognitive biases
- Practice addressing each bias in realistic scenarios
- Exchange feedback, reflections, and plans to apply it in real life
Participant reflections
Sparkwise impact in numbers
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Participant satisfaction
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active engagement
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CLIENT STORY

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Senior Program Manager
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