Problem solving training equips your teams to investigate issues systematically, define them accurately and implement solutions that hold up under pressure. BOTI’s two-day Creative Problem Solving and Critical Thinking Course is a practical, facilitator-led skills programme built for South African managers and staff who need to turn workplace problems into measurable results.

If you are an HR/L&D lead, business owner or operations manager looking to strengthen your people’s decision-making and critical thinking, this page covers the full course, plus how problem solving and decision making and critical thinking skills training fit together.

Course Overview

This two-day programme teaches participants to investigate problems systematically, define them accurately, and implement effective solutions. The course emphasises developing critical thinking skills and applying creative methodologies to real business challenges, so delegates return to work ready to apply structured thinking to live issues.

The approach is practical and hands-on. Delegates learn to become an expert interrogator and investigator of problems rather than jumping to the first available answer, a discipline that pays off across operations, projects and customer-facing teams.

Key Learning Outcomes

Participants will learn to:

• Thoroughly investigate the problem and define it based on verified information
• Consult stakeholders throughout the problem-solving process
• Apply multiple solution-generation techniques (Delphi, mind mapping, brainstorming and more)
• Evaluate solutions against feasibility, cost and resource criteria
• Implement and assess effectiveness to confirm the fix actually worked

Course Details at a Glance

Per-delegate rates fall sharply as you train a full team, which makes group bookings the most cost-effective route for departments rolling out a common problem-solving method.

Ready to upskill your team? Request a quote or a free 15-minute callback and we’ll tailor the course to your industry and timelines.

Problem Solving and Decision Making

Problem solving and decision making are two halves of the same capability: one identifies what is actually wrong, the other commits to the best course of action. Teams that confuse them tend to either over-analyse without deciding, or decide quickly without understanding the real problem.

This course builds both. Delegates learn to separate the diagnosis stage from the decision stage so that choices rest on verified information rather than assumptions or office politics.

What the problem solving and decision making component covers:

• Defining the problem correctly before generating any solutions, using verified facts and stakeholder input
• Structured decision criteria so options are weighed against feasibility, cost and available resources, not gut feel
• Solution-generation techniques including Delphi, mind mapping and brainstorming to widen the range of options before committing
• Decision ownership and implementation, so a chosen solution is actually executed and its effectiveness reviewed afterwards

For South African organisations, strong decision-making discipline also supports governance and accountability, useful where decisions must be defensible to boards, auditors or B-BBEE reporting requirements. (Note: this is general guidance, not legal or financial advice.)

Teams that want to pair structured decision making with people leadership often combine this course with broader management development. Explore BOTI’s management and leadership training courses to build a complete supervisory skill set.

Critical Thinking Skills Training

Critical thinking skills training is the engine behind effective problem solving. Where problem solving gives teams a process, critical thinking gives them the judgement to question assumptions, test evidence and avoid the cognitive shortcuts that lead to costly mistakes.

This course develops critical thinking as a workplace habit, not an abstract concept. Delegates practise interrogating problems from multiple angles and stress-testing proposed solutions before money and time are committed.

Core critical thinking skills developed:

• Questioning assumptions rather than accepting the first explanation
• Evaluating evidence to separate verified facts from opinion or hearsay
• Identifying root causes instead of treating symptoms
• Weighing trade-offs between competing solutions objectively
• Reflecting on outcomes to improve future decisions

These skills transfer directly to day-to-day work: fewer repeat problems, better-quality recommendations to management, and teams that escalate the right issues at the right time. For L&D buyers, critical thinking is one of the highest-leverage soft skills because it amplifies the value of every other capability your people have.

Critical thinking pairs naturally with related soft skills. Many BOTI clients combine it with communication skills training and time management training to round out a high-performance team development programme.

Who Should Attend

The course suits managers, entrepreneurs, project managers, team leaders, creative professionals and decision-makers across industries who need stronger problem-solving capabilities. It is equally valuable for:

• HR and L&D teams rolling out a consistent problem-solving method across departments
• Operations and department managers who want their teams to resolve issues without constant escalation
• Business owners building a more self-sufficient, accountable workforce

Why BOTI

BOTI is a South African corporate training provider with a catalogue of 450 courses and a client base that includes Sasol, Glencore and the City of Johannesburg. Our problem-solving training is delivered with a practical, hands-on approach, a proven stakeholder-involvement methodology, and multiple field-tested techniques, so delegates leave with skills they can apply on Monday morning. This course is a facilitator-led skills programme and delegates receive a BOTI certificate of completion; it is not an accredited qualification.

Need accredited training too? Ask about BOTI’s QCTO- and SETA-accredited programmes in management and leadership development, which can count toward your organisation’s skills development objectives. Under B-BBEE, skills development spend is measured against a target of 6% of the leviable amount, and the Skills Development Levy (SDL) is set at 1% of payroll, so structured training supports both compliance and capability. (General guidance only, not financial advice.)

Want this delivered in-house? Request a quote or a free 15-minute callback and ask about funded-training options and our free L&D needs-assessment guide to map the right courses for your team.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the problem solving training accredited?
No. The Creative Problem Solving and Critical Thinking Course is a practical, facilitator-led skills programme, and delegates receive a BOTI certificate of completion rather than an accredited qualification. If you need accredited training, ask about BOTI’s QCTO- and SETA-accredited management and leadership programmes.

How long is the course and where is it delivered?
It runs over two days and can be delivered in-house at your venue or as a public course across major South African centres including Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Pretoria, with remote delivery available.

What is the difference between problem solving and decision making training?
Problem solving focuses on investigating and defining the issue and generating options; decision making focuses on evaluating those options against clear criteria and committing to action. This course develops both, plus the critical thinking judgement that underpins them.

Can the course be customised for our industry?
Yes. In-house delivery lets us tailor examples, case studies and techniques to your sector and live workplace challenges. Request a quote to discuss your requirements.

Get Started

Give your teams a repeatable method for solving problems and making sound decisions. Request a quote or book a free 15-minute callback with a BOTI training consultant today, or call 011-882-8853. Ask for our free L&D planning guide to align this course with your skills development and B-BBEE goals.