An Intensive 5-day Training Course
Design Thinking for Strategic Management and
Masterclass in Advanced Critical Thinking Skills
Course Introduction
In a rapidly evolving business landscape, leaders must be able to re-examine assumptions, interpret ambiguous information, and innovate strategically. This training course on Design Thinking for Strategic Management and Masterclass in Advanced Critical Thinking Skills equips participants with the mindset, tools, and processes required to solve complex problems, enhance decision-making, and drive organisational innovation.
Through a blend of analytical and creative methodologies, participants will learn how to:
- Ask the right questions and challenge assumptions
- Understand user needs and apply empathy-driven design
- Frame and reframe organisational problems
- Generate, test, and refine innovative solutions
- Make informed, evidence-based decisions
- Lead teams through structured, repeatable problem-solving processes
This training course engages delegates in interactive activities, case studies, real-world applications, prototyping, and collaborative analysis. Participants will leave with a rigorous, practical toolkit for strategic leadership, innovation management, and organisational problem-solving.
Objectives
By the end of this training course participants will be able to:
- Apply a systematic, theory-informed methodology for analysing problems, evaluating information, and making sound decisions.
- Recognise and avoid common cognitive biases, fallacies, and reasoning errors to improve judgement and critical insight.
- Use user-centric tools (e.g., empathy maps, personas, journey maps) to understand stakeholder needs and define problems accurately.
- Generate creative ideas through structured ideation techniques and apply collaborative thinking within teams.
- Develop and refine solutions using rapid prototyping, iterative testing, and feedback-driven improvement.
- Integrate critical thinking and design thinking principles into organisational strategy, operations, and culture to enhance innovation and performance.
Training Methodology
This highly engaging programme uses experiential and practical learning techniques, including:
- Self-assessment tools and diagnostic instruments
- Group activities for both analytical and design challenges
- Case studies from innovation leaders across industries
- Practical exercises applying both critical thinking and design thinking tools
- Short, interactive presentations introducing key theories and models
- Video clips, demonstrations, and facilitated discussions
- Team-based ideation, prototyping, and problem-solving activities
Participants will analyse their own workplace challenges, ensuring high transferability and immediate practical value.
Organisational Impact
On completion, organisations can expect:
- Improved analytical and strategic assessment capability
- Increased capacity to perceive and evaluate critical needs
- Better stakeholder analysis and user-centric decision-making
- Enhanced ability to navigate complexity using adaptive problem-solving
- Stronger collaboration across functions and teams
- Faster, more effective prototyping and implementation of solutions
- A culture of continuous improvement, creativity, and innovation
- Reduced risk through better judgement and reasoning processes
Personal Impact
Delegates will leave with:
- A consolidated toolkit of advanced critical and creative thinking methods
- Enhanced capability to analyse situations objectively and deeply
- Confidence in tackling complex decisions and ambiguous problems
- Strengthened innovation skills and idea-generation capacity
- Improved empathy for users, customers, and colleagues
- Stronger team collaboration and communication abilities
- Greater flexibility and readiness for organisational change
- Practical skills to design, test, and implement strategic solutions
Who Should Attend?
This training course is ideal for leaders, professionals, and managers who must think critically, innovate strategically, and solve complex problems. It is especially suited to:
- General Managers, CEOs, COOs, CFOs
- Directors, Senior Managers, and Executives
- HR and Training Managers
- Strategy and Planning Units
- Innovation Hubs and Transformation Teams
- Team Leaders and Functional Managers
- Project, Programme, and Process Managers
- Newly Appointed Senior Managers
- Any professional seeking to enhance analytical insight, creativity, and strategic impact
Course Outline
Day One
Understanding Basics of Critical Thinking
- Intuitive vs Deliberate Thinking
- Definition of Critical Thinking
- Strategic benefits and importance of Critical Thinking
- Characteristics of Critical Thinkers
- Methods to collaborate with various archetypes at work
Day Two
Thinking and reasoning errors
- Types of thinking and reasoning errors – Assumptions & Fallacies
- Ways to overcome and apply an appropriate response to reasoning errors
- The logic of our decisions and the behaviour derived from them
- How to improve our critical thinking skills
- How to become a fair-minded thinker
Day Three
Introduction to Design Thinking
- Definition and principles of design thinking
- Historical background and evolution
- The importance of design thinking in business management
- Overview of the five stages: Empathise, define, ideate, prototype, test
- Exploration of each stage with real-world examples
Day Four
Understanding your stakeholders
- Techniques for empathising with users
- Conducting interviews and observations
- Building user personas and empathy maps
- Techniques for defining and framing problems
- Importance of problem statements in guiding the design process
Day Five
Ideation, Prototyping and Testing
- Advanced Techniques for brainstorming and creative thinking
- Methods to foster innovation within teams
- Selecting and refining ideas
- Introduction to prototyping methods
- Build to learn
Certificate
On successful completion of this training course, Oxford Management Centre Certificate with eligible Continuing Professional Education credits (CPE) from National Registry of CPE Sponsor will be awarded to the delegates
Accreditation
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Yes, we provide assistance in securing both hotel reservations & entry visa on all our international training venues, for delegates attending our training courses. For further information / assistance, please contact our Customer Service at:
- Telephone: +971 50 985 0174
- E-mail: info@oxford-management.com
Yes, Oxford Management Centre is accredited by the following professional bodies;
National Association of State Board of Accountancy (NASBA)
The Oxford Management Centre is registered with NASBA as a sponsor of Continuing Professional Education (CPE) on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. NASBA have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit.
Yes, discounts are available. For further information please call +971 50 985 0174 or email, info@oxford-management.com
Note: Discounts are not applicable with any other special offer that may be available.
All course bookings made through Oxford Management Centre are non-refundable. By registering for a course, you acknowledge and accept that fees are payable in full and are not subject to refund under any circumstances, including but not limited to participant dissatisfaction, changes in personal or professional circumstances, or partial attendance.
Oxford Management Centre reserves the right to make reasonable adjustments to course content, trainers, or schedules where necessary, without entitling delegates to a refund. Full details of each course – including objectives, target audience, and content – are clearly outlined prior to enrolment, and it is the responsibility of the delegate to ensure suitability before booking.
There are 2 easy ways to register:
- Online: Select the training course you want to register for, Click the “Book Your Place” button on the course page, complete the form and click submit.
- E-mail: Send your details to info@oxford-management.com
We request that all cancellations be made at least one week before the class start date. You may reschedule this class without any penalty. If not, a $250 fee will be charged for cancellations received less than one week before a class begins and for no-shows. Cancellation penalties and any fees incurred by Oxford Management Centre will be deducted from refunds.
For more information request, email info@oxford-management.com or call +971 50 985 0174.
The classroom training fees include course presentation, relevant materials, physical & digital documentation, lunch and refreshments served during entire training. Accommodation and transportation are not included in the training course fees.
While, online training fees cover the course presentation and digital documentation and relevant materials.
The Oxford Management Centre Certificate of Completion with corresponding CPE credits shall be awarded to delegates who has successfully completed the training course.
Payment must be received before the training course commences. You can make payment by bank draft, cash, credit card or wire transfer.
Note: If the payment is not received, Oxford Management Centre has the right to refuse admission.
Upon receipt of your registration form, we will send you the following by e-mail:
- Registration Confirmation
- Invoice/Receipt (where appropriate)
If you register online you will receive an e-mail within 24 hours confirming your registration.
