Transforming through the learning space

Thinking Skills

Think wider,
then sharper.

Good thinking has two motions — opening up to generate possibilities, and closing in to decide what works. We build both, across analytical, creative, lateral and systems thinking.

The two motions of thought

Strong thinkers can do two opposite things well.

Most people lean to one side — endlessly generating, or prematurely deciding. The skill is doing both deliberately: open the problem all the way up, then close it down to a sound conclusion.

Diverge
Open it up
  • Generate new perceptions and alternatives
  • Break the dominant mental pattern
  • Think laterally — fuse and reframe
  • Find the value others miss
then
Converge
Close it down
  • Analyze the data rigorously
  • Map cause, effect and root cause
  • Evaluate and choose among alternatives
  • Synthesize a decision you can act on
The disciplines

Four ways of thinking, one toolkit.

Each workshop develops a distinct thinking discipline — and together they cover the full range from generating ideas to deciding and solving.

Convergent

Analytical Thinking

Move past accepting data at face value. Examine it rigorously and turn it into sound decisions — the backbone of quality, improvement and the scientific method.

ParetoCause–effect / FishboneQFDDecision treesPDCA & 6 SigmaSWOT
Divergent

Creative Thinking

Generate ideas that are genuinely new, valuable and workable. Learn the creative thinking process and where to aim it — the hotspots where new value is created.

Newness · Value · DesignCreative processIdea hotspotsReal-world cases
Divergent & Lateral

Advanced & Lateral Thinking

Break out of habitual patterns on demand. Use lateral tools to reframe problems, then balance lateral and vertical thinking to land on solutions that are practical, not just exciting.

TriggeringPattern challengeValue morphingMulti-fusionDOOD scanning
Systemic

Systems Thinking

See the whole, not just the parts. Map the dynamic forces behind complex problems, recognize recurring archetypes, and find the leverage points for solutions that work and last.

System mappingReinforcing & retarding cyclesArchetypesLeverage points
What your people take home

A working toolkit for real problems.

Not theory to recite — instruments your team practises on its own problems during the workshop and reaches for afterwards.

Pareto analysis Cause–effect / Fishbone Root cause analysis Quality Function Deployment Decision tree Decision matrix PDCA / Deming wheel 6 Sigma Scientific method SWOT 5 Ws & 1 H Benchmarking Systems mapping System archetypes Triggering Dominant pattern challenge Value morphing Multi-fusion DOOD scanning Creative decision making
How we teach it

Thinking is a skill — so we make people practise.

Every workshop follows the same learning arc, moving from a wider view down to applied analysis and synthesis on the participant's own work.

1

Perception expansion

Open up how participants see the problem and the skill.

2

Assimilation

Take in the thinking tools and the process behind them.

3

Application

Use the tools on real exercises and live problems.

4

Analysis & synthesis

Reason to a conclusion and an action plan to take back.

Presentation
Video clips
Case analysis across domains
Application exercises
Simulated & live application of tools
Pre & post tests
Programs & formats

Run as focused workshops, in-person or online.

Analytical Thinking
4 half-days

Electronic / virtual mode.

Creative Thinking
1–2 sessions

Case-led, hands-on.

Advanced & Lateral
1 day

Lateral-thinking tools applied to KRAs.

Systems Thinking
1 day

Applied to real organizational problems.

All programs are customized to your context and can be delivered in-house or through our virtual learning environment.

Building thinking competency since 1997.

Trusted by India's leading organizations

NTPCPowergridMaruti-SuzukiMahindra & MahindraAIMANestlé
Get in touch

Give your team better thinking.

Tell us the kind of problems your people wrestle with, and we'll shape the right mix of analytical, creative, lateral and systems thinking around them.