Analytical skills

2-day Program on Analytical Skills
The program objective is to develop participants to manage all aspects of analytical work assignments using effective strategies and approved formats in order to meet organizational missions, management visions and customer expectations. The Analytical Skills Program provides indispensable analytical skills, by focusing on the central components relating to current practices and trends as well as providing skill-building tools and job mastery exercises. The program is designed to enable both new and experienced analysts to develop the critical core competencies, essential for success.

SESSION PLAN
Day 1
Session 1: Introduction
Objectives:
To create a positive learning environment through:
Explaining the background and objective of the program.
Beginning the process of breaking down communication barriers and the building of interpersonal rapport
Initiating the process of interaction and experience sharing.
Beginning the process of building a learning team.
Content:
Program Structure and thrust areas.
Introductions of the participants.

Session 2: Cognitive Abilities
Objectives:
After attending the session, the participants will be able to:
Understand what cognitive abilities are
Identify the different kinds
Understand its relevance to analytical skills

Content:
What are Cognitive abilities?
Definitions, Examples.
Understand the importance of boosting cognitive abilities
Understanding reasoning, perception and intuition
Using cognitive abilities for analyzing and problem solving

Session 3: Critical Thinking
Objectives:
After attending the session, the participants will be able to:
Define and give examples of critical thinking
Recall the qualities fostering critical thinking
Explain the skills required for critical thinking
Identify the obstacles to critical thinking

Content:
What is Critical Thinking?
Definitions, Examples, and Practice
Critical Thinking Approaches
Qualities that foster Critical Thinking
Skills for Critical Thinking
Obstacles to Critical Thinking
Misconceptions about Critical Thinking

Session 4: Analysing Skills
Objectives:
After attending the session, the participants will be able to:
Understand the different analysing skills
Enhance these skills by using cognitive abilities
Identify the link between analysing skills and critical thinking and in turn use them for analysis
Understand the importance of analysing, to fulfill long term goals
Content:
What are analysing skills?
Using them to understand the underlying causes of situations
Understanding the use and importance of :
Logical thinking
Eye for detail
Objectivity
Creativity
Foresight

Session 5: Concept of Full Engagement
Objectives:
After attending this session, the participants will be able to understand:
how not to overload
How to prioritise
How to systematise
When to take breaks
When to resume

Content:
Give time to renew
Brain is a biological entity
The brain can be trained
Make your self-1 more
Concept of ritual is important

Session 6: Problem Solving and Decision Making
Objectives:
After attending the session, the participants will be able to:
Explain an approach to problem solving
Avoid fallacies in reasoning
Explain the 6 functions of a decision making process
Recall the barriers to effective decision making

Content:
Approach to Problem Solving
Data Gathering, Logical Analysis
Tools for Problem Solving
Common Fallacies in Reasoning
Significance of Decision Making
Decision Making Process
6 Functions
Psychological Parameters in Decision Making
Barriers to Effective Decision Making
Critical Thinking and Decision Making

Day 2
Session 7: Group Decision Making
Objectives:
After attending the session, the participants will be able to:
Recall characteristics of an effective group
Explain the advantages of group decision making
Explain different strategies to overcome conflicts in decision making
Identify team diseases which affect group decision making
Explain the role of communication in decision making

Content:
Characteristics of Effective Groups
Individual versus Group Decision Making
Conflict in Decision Making
Participation in Decision Making
Team Dynamics
Working with Difficult People
Communication in DM

Session 8: Presenting Analytical Reports

Objectives:
After attending the session, the participants will be able to:
Plan and prepare effective analytical reports
Plan and deliver effective oral presentations

Content:
Preparing Analytical Reports
Clarify, Simplify, Organize avoid ambiguity, give examples, and plan
The Report Process
Style and Content
Linguistic Pitfalls
Making an Effective Oral Presentation
Purpose, People, Place, Seating, Equipment, Presenting oneself, Timing, Visuals, Content, and Structure

Session 9: Implementing Decisions
Objectives:
After attending the session, the participants will be able to:
Develop an implementation plan
Measure the results, develop control methods, and manage the change

Content:
Developing a Pilot Plan
Execute Pilot, Interpret and Learn from Results
Plan and Implement the Full Solution
Set up Toll Gates

Session 10: Productivity Tools
Objectives:
After attending the session, the participants will be able to:
Separate critical activities from non-critical activities
Plan their time efficiently

Content:
Tips for Efficiently Managing Time
Planning, Prioritization, Urgent versus Important, Understanding one s Energy Cycle
Thoughts from Project Management
Critical Activities, Parallel Activities, Redundant Activities, Understanding Workflow, Setting Milestones, Reviewing

Session 11: The Quadrant Theory
Objectives:
To understand how to put first things first
To understand what is urgent
To understand what is non-urgent
To understand what is important
To understand what is unimportant

Content:
Thoughts from Stephen Covey
How Aristotle provides the base
Definition of urgency
Quadrant II is the hardest to master and the key to control

Session 12: Recap & Action Plan
Objectives:
To provide an opportunity for the participants to consolidate the learning
To get a feedback on the program from the participants
To understand how they would implement the learning in the work place

Content:
Recap of the major learning.
Feedback by participants.
Submission of Action Plan by participants

Methodology
The workshop while being facilitator led will be facilitated through case studies, exercises and simulation.