Overview

On this page, we will discuss:

Tips for Being Flexible, an Effective Problem Solver, and a Critical Thinker
How Do You Know That You Are Using These Skills Effectively?
Sustainability Innovation Challenge Tip

Tips for Being Flexible, an Effective Problem Solver, and a Critical Thinker

Anticipate potential risks in the planning phase and manage them when they arise.
Have a plan for managing and navigating change.
Think about your process for problem solving.
Develop strategies for problem solving in a timely manner.
Be sure to check in regularly to monitor your project's progress.
Mobilize critical thinking tools by asking wise, well-informed questions.
Be intentional about reflection.

How Do You Know That You Are Using These Skills Effectively?

How do you know if you are successfully implementing your flexibility, problem solving, and critical thinking skills?

Every risk, problem, or issue is different, but there is evidence that you can look for to know that you are on the right track:

You have a clear plan. If something changes, you can determine how it will impact your project overall.
You can pivot quickly and with relative ease when minor changes arise.
You have anticipated some risks to your project. No project is completely invulnerable to risk.
You can and do find more than one solution to a problem.
You have planned some form of retrospective and you are reflecting on your project regularly.

There are some exclusions and caveats to the suggestions above; just because all of these requirements are met does not mean you will have a perfect project. Be sure to regularly practice and develop your skills!

Reflection

Other than the suggestions provided above, how else could you know that you are being flexible, problem solving effectively, and thinking critically?

Sustainability Innovation Challenge Tip

Image of Earth surrounded by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

Your SI Challenge solution will have risks that you can anticipate. Think about these well in advance.

How can you navigate these challenges so that your solution will be most impactful? In what ways have you engaged in critical thought?

Hint for Completing the SI Challenge

For the SI Challenge assignment, ensure that you have a clear understanding of what risk is and what the steps to problem solving are.

You must be able to:

create a risk register,
use a risk matrix,
follow the five steps to problem solving including the "5 Whys", use an "Ishikawa Diagram", and perform brainstorming and/or mind mapping.

Project Management Resource Sample Library

Project management tools help us organize our work to be great problem solvers and critical thinkers. Visit the Project Management Resource Sample Library page to explore a list of tools commonly used by project managers that can be applied to your own work.

Specific to Flexibility, Problem Solving, and Critical Thinking, you will find templates for the following:

Change Management Plan
Ishikawa (Fishbone) Diagram
Lessons Learned Document
Mind Map
Requirement Breakdown Structure (RBS)
Requirement Traceability Matrix (RTM)
Retrospective
Risk Matrix
Risk Register
Workback Schedule