Decision Support Course

This course provides structured procedures that assist decision-makers.

The steps of the Decision Support Process end with making decisions and/or recommending a decision within the chain of command.  Organizations face a multitude of complex financial problems everyday that would benefit from critical and creative thinking and all are decision support opportunities.

For finance and accounting professionals at all levels, it is never too early to learn how to make rational decisions that are based on a methodical and reasonable approach. Everyone has a preferred method to look at the world, solve problems and make decisions. The difficulty comes in trying to look at problems from different perspectives – with “new eyes.” In this course, participants learn new ways to look at problems and new methods develop solutions. They learn keys to using critical and creative thinking to identify analyze problems and make overall better decisions.

This is a 3-day instructor-led course. (25.2 CPE credits are available for participants in this course.)

Everyone wins in an organization where everyone makes better decisions more often!

As participants move through this interactive session they discover new decision-making techniques and how to implement qualitative and quantitative tools to make good decisions. They learn how group dynamics can impact the decision-making process for better – and for worse. Plus, they learn to analyze and manage risk appropriately. 

But, this course is about more than just making good decisions. Participants are often surprised that written and oral communications are critical to the Decision Support Process. Through a variety of exercises and cases studies, all requiring decision support, participants are given many opportunities to expand, practice and refine these important skills.

This course develops the skills and abilities necessary for participants to make – and keep – a commitment to make better decisions. Everyone leaves with a positive attitude about the value of theDecision Support Process and their ability to implement these processes within the organization.

Training Benefits

• People recognize the behavioral “traps” that lead to bad decisions (groupthink, overconfidence, cognitive bias and others), and know how to avoid them
• Decision makers understand their roles and have developed the knowledge and skills their roles require
• People know how to frame decision issues appropriately and avoid wasting resources solving the wrong problem
• Decision makers use creative and critical thinking processes to develop alternative solutions (The first option that comes to mind isn’t always the best)
• People learn when and how to use an array of decision tools and processes
• Logical reasoning, and not emotion, dominates decision making
• People understand what decision quality is and have a common language for discussing it
• People are dedicated to improving decision quality

Course Objectives

By the end of this session participants will be able to:

• Apply new and enhanced skills to implement decision support techniques
• Utilize financial management tools that enhance decision support
• Practice interpersonal skills that have a positive impact on decision support roles
• Implement decision support concepts that impact leadership
• Identify and apply decision support processes within the organization

Decision Support Course Topics

Day One

• Section One: Course Overview  
• Section Two: What is Problem Solving?
• Defining Problem Solving and Decision Making
• Types of Decisions 
• Facts vs. Information 
• Decision-Making Traps 
• Section Three: Problem Solving Styles  
•         Activity: Decision Style Assessment
• The Four Styles
• Working with Your Style
• Activity: Section Four: Earthquake!
• Decision Information 
• Individual Action Steps
• Section Five: The Problem-Solving Model
  • Model Overview 
  • Farmer’s Feedback 
  • Phase One 
  • Phase Two
  • Phase Three
    • Activity: Case: A Heavy-Handed Approach 
• Section Six: Six Ways to Approach a Decision
• DeBono’s Hats
  • • Activity: Wearing the Hat

Day two

• Section Seven: The Problem-Solving Toolkit
• The Basic Tools 
• The Fishbone
  • • Activity: Case Study - Profit Problem
• Section Eight: Thinking Outside the Box
• Brainstorming 
• Using Brainstorming Questions 
• Creative Thinking Methods 
• Castaway
  • • Activity: Exercise           
• Starbursting
  • • Activity: Exercise
• Mind Mapping
  • • Activity: Exercise
• Section Ten: Group Dynamics
  • Building Consensus
  • Group Think
  • Avoiding Group Think 
  • Using the Delphi Technique
    • Activity: Exercise
• Section Twelve: Decision Making Techniques
• Pareto Analysis 
  • • Activity: Example - Exercise
  • Paired Comparison Analysis 
    • Activity: Example - Exercise
• Grid Analysis 
  • • Activity: Example - Exercise
• PMI 
  • • Activity: Example - Exercise
• Force Field Analysis 
  • • Activity: Example - Exercise
• Stepladder Technique
  • • Activity: Example - Exercise
• Cost/Benefit Analysis 
  • • Activity: Example - Exercise

Day Three

• Section Thirteen: Controlling Risks – Decision Making Under Uncertainty
  • Quantifying Non-Numerical Features
  • Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) 
  • Combining Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis
    • Activity: Example - Exercise
• Decision Trees
  • • Activity: Calculating Tree Values
    • Activity: Calculating The Value of Uncertain Outcome Nodes
    • Activity: Calculating The Value of Decision Nodes
• Scenario Analysis 
  • • Activity: Example - Exercise
• Monte Carlo Analysis
  • • Activity: Example - Exercise
• Section Fourteen: Decision Support Systems
  • DDS Types
  • Benefits of DDS
  • Keys to DDS Implementation 
• Section Fourteen: Decision Making Case Study
  • • Activity: Task Explanation
  • Debriefing
• Section Fifteen: A Personal Action Plan
• Develop Your Personal Action Plan

Alliance is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors.  State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit.  Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be addressed to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors, 150 Fourth Avenue North, Nashville, TN, 37219-2417.  Web site: www.nasba.org.

To receive more information about this training call toll free at 877-385-5515. 

You may also email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .