You’ve been asked to give a 20 minute presentation on 5 Keys to Effective Problem Solving and Decision Making. In other words, considering everything you have learned about problem solving, decision making, conflict resolution and negotiation, if you could tell an audience the 5 most important concepts for them to understand in order to build an effective organization, what 5 concepts would you present.

Your paper needs to follow these guidelines: 8 - 10 pages in length, 11 or 12 point font, and one inch margins. The 8-10 pages does not include your cover sheet, abstract, table of contents, any appendices you might include or your references. Also be sure you follow APA style and formatting.

Follow this outline in responding to the situation described in the first paragraph.

Introduction

Introduce the five concepts you are going to discuss and why you chose these five concepts.

Five Concepts – Organizational Application

For each of your 5 concepts provide the following information.

Concept – State Your Concept

Explanation – Provide a brief explanation of the concept which would help the layman understand the idea you are presenting. In other words explain the concepts in every day words which the average person would be able to understand. This should be only one or two paragraphs for each concept.

Organizational Application – present an in-depth explanation of how this concept could be used to improve an organization you know well. Be sure to discuss these items:

Situation Analysis -- Analyze the existing situation of an organization you know well based on the concept.

How would processes, procedures or policies be different -- Provide a recommendation(s) for improvement based on the concept; in other words how would the organization function differently if this concept was applied in a more effective manner in the organization you are discussing.

What outcomes would be different – Explain what outcomes or end-results would be different based on a better application of this concept. For example you might point to improvements in productivity, team morale, communication, decision-making, change management and implementation, individual motivation, etc.

Three Concepts – Personal Application

Pick three concepts from all of the readings and discuss how you could become a more productive and motivated decision maker and team member if you applied the ideas within each concept in a new, different or more complete manner. Be sure to provide business or organizational examples in which you could improve. Don’t be general in describing your examples. Provide specific comments with details.