Overview
Many business problems stem from a lack of diagnosis. Usually, the more data involved, the more difficult the diagnosis.
With the advent of AI, now, more than ever, internal advisors and project teams need to decide which data is relevant: selecting data to generate compelling insights, collaborate effectively and produce outputs and recommendations that can be understood and acted upon by senior internal stakeholders and decision-makers.
By establishing a consistent approach using a cohesive, robust, reliable and valid structured analytical thinking process, participants and clients achieve efficiency (only relevant data is collected) and effectiveness (it solves the problem/identifies an opportunity). Productivity is also improved, as any team member with these skills can be seconded to a project and have an immediate impact:
- Analysing data to create insights
- Consulting-led approach
- Establishing trust and credibility
- Creating a data-driven narrative
Each programme is structured to meet the specific requirements of your business and it’s objectives, based on modules developed and refined over time by Openside. Techniques covered include how to formulate hypotheses, conduct issue analysis, data driven research and analytical thinking, draw logical conclusions, develop recommendations for action, create compelling reports and value propositions, and presentation of findings through storytelling. Pre-work is completed in advance of the programme to ensure that time is spent productively in the sessions and learning can be applied more quickly to live projects and business as usual. During the programme, participants will discover the core analytical thinking process in detail and can put the framework into action using ‘live’ examples. Participants will be able to apply critical thinking, to increase innovation and effectiveness in their client interactions. Leading to development of new, creative solutions and opportunities to deliver growth.
Programme participants recommend this course for Advisors, Strategists and Policy Makers, as well as Internal Consulting, Business Transformation and Project teams, Account Managers, Client Support professionals, Solution Architects, Supply Chain specialists, and Business Development and Sales professionals – all of whom can benefit from stronger analytical problem-solving skills, regardless of experience.
- Participants often gain knowledge but fail to apply and model new behaviours after the training
- No clear measurement of improvement
- Participants rarely get enough opportunity to practise new approaches on live projects, reducing learning impact
- Teams have strong technical capability but lack soft skills, such as influencing and communicating insight, which prevent them from operating as credible internal advisors.
- Participants struggle to consistently provide original, compelling and innovative insights that deliver real client value.
“A great week, I appreciated learning about useful tools and frameworks that I will be able to use in my daily work for more effective analysis and better framed problems.”
Global FMCG
Business Intelligence
Graduate, Category Buyer, Procurement, R&D, Technical Experts, Product Development, Design Thinkers, Technical Support, Product Specialists, Sales, Business Development, Supply Chain Specialists, Solution Architects, Client Support, Account Managers, Business Transformation Teams, Internal Consulting Teams, Policy-makers, Strategists, Advisors, New Entrant, Analyst, Consultant, Manager, Senior Manager, VP, Director, COO, CEO
- e-Learning
- Face-to-face
- Virtual
- Webinar
Learning impact
During the programme, participants learn to:
- Understand the core concepts and how they apply to real business challenges
- Define the scope of complex problems and clarify the key issues to address
- Identify the data required to analyse effectively
- Determine the resources needed
- Develop clear analytical logic to structure and solve the problem
- Generate new insights and creative opportunities
- Structure insights and recommendations into clear client presentations or reports
If you would like to find out how the Openside APS Programme can improve innovation, collaboration and productivity in your organisation.
Programme Stats
3,870
Alumni have graduated from our Analytical Problem-Solving programme
11,901
Alumni have graduated from our Consulting Skills Development programme
Vienna performance+
Attendees achieved a 29% improvement for innovation and hypotheses, with reviewers observing 8% improvement and a 10% improvement for identifying problems or opportunities
Hear from a Programme Leader
“The role of the internal advisor is complex and demands a specific skill set. A key skill is the ability to solve problems in an analytically sound and effective way while simultaneously balancing the needs of stakeholders with a range of perspectives and opinions. The Openside programme teaches the skills of dealing with multiple decision-makers who may not be aligned with a project objective and the analytical problem-solving process needed to deliver an excellent result.” – Jacqui Isaacs, Programme Leader
Case Studies
Analytical Problem Solving – HR Services
Our client needed to address the challenges of “turning data into insight” and “data fluency” with a long-term goal of becoming more ‘advisory’ and operating as an internal consulting unit – able to ‘charge’ for their services.
“The Analytical Problem-Solving program they ran for me delivered exceptional results. Through customised content and practical application to live projects, participants rated program relevance 4.8 out of 5. Most impressively, we saw a 45% performance improvement across key competencies within three months. Their blend of customisation and measurable results makes them an invaluable learning partner. We expect to do more work with them this year.” – Global Leader, HR Services
“The programme was a great learning experience that challenged my normal approach to framing problems/opportunities”
Internal Consulting Group
Global Business Analyst
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