Tel: +61 3 9726 8316 Email: doug@blackdouglas.com.au Fax: +61 3 9727 4644
Black Douglas
BLACK  DOUGLAS  CORPORATE  TRAINING
8 Greenbank Drive    Mooroolbark    Victoria    3138    Australia

Active Problem Solving

Problem Solving ‹› Team Building ‹› Success

Active Problem Solving is a practical, team building workshop day designed to encourage better problem solving skills in your business context. Together we discover processes used by professional problem solvers such as mathematicians, develop an easy to understand framework to support future problem solving and invite participants to apply the framework to current work problems.

In Brief
Professional problem solvers, such as mathematicians, work with others to explore and hopefully solve problems. They know there is a better chance of solution in a team because:
  • we each bring different views, experiences and talents to the problem, and
  • a well constructed team values individuals and encourages them to be more forthcoming.
The team is often surprised by the insight of an individual contribution and the team benefits by 'working it up' together.

This practical full day workshop:

  • begins with the story of the solution of what is sometimes called 'the world's hardest problem';
  • involves working on generic problems;
  • highlights the benefits of working in teams and how these benefits increase as the team succeeds;
  • develops a framework to guide problem solving;
  • provides time to share and discuss your current problems in the context of the framework.
Sample Evaluations
  • I liked the practical exercises - I learn things (and remember them) better like this.
  • It was very useful to explore different problem-solving methodologies and also to apply to real situations.
 Have we met your expectations/hopes for this workshop?
  • Yes - very enjoyable and useful, thank you.
  • Yes, was great.
  • Yep!
  • Yes - more so really.
 From the one month follow-up
  • I've implemented two key work practices since last month's workshop. The first is getting away from my desk and doing something with my hands if I find my brain is stuck on something. The second is dedicating Thursday mornings to off-site creative thinking, research and reading time. I think they are both helping to create more brain space!

Your Trainer
  • Douglas Williams is a professional educator with over 20 years experience in adult learning.
  • In his sessions, Doug uses an interactive, hands on approach to maximise enthusiasm, interest and learning, challenging both intellectually and creatively.
  • He is the designer of Coffee Time Conundrums - one of the resources which stimulate this workshop.
  • Doug is the author, or co-author, of many books and articles particularly on the subjects of mathematics, learning and education.
  • He consults nationally and internationally and has presented or held workshops at a number of international conferences.
Please contact us for further information:

Coffee Time Conundrums
Chat, chew and be challenged.

Are you getting the best from your lunch room? Sure it gets you away from the work face for a while. And the caffeine hit helps the day roll on. No doubt there's a bit of chat about the weather. But it could also be a place that contributes to conversation, team building and brain stimulation?

If Crosswords or Sudoku get you in, how much more will the colourful, tactile challenges of our Coffee Time Conundrums. They're designed to be used by one or two or small groups.

Click the photo for more information

and various print masters.

Click the photo for more information

Community Service
Black Douglas provides web space, time and financial support for Rubaga Youth Development Association (RYDA), Kampala, Uganda. We have been associated with this worthy non-government (NGO), non-denominational, Christian organisation for more than a decade. Its aim is to teach life and vocational skills to street youths and other orphaned and vulnerable children.

RYDA cannot continue its work without generous and sustained first world donations. We invite you to join us in this project.

From January 2010 a main thrust of RYDA's work is to implement a project, largely funded by the United Nations International Labour Organisation, that works towards the elimination of child labour in Uganda. RYDA must contribute $US9,196 over the 22 month period. We are working through St. Margaret's Uniting Church to ensure that this amount is never in doubt. This overview of the project and covering letter from St. Margaret's will explain the details.

We invite you to join us.

Corporate Training is a division of Black Douglas ...