Day 1: Understanding Complexity & Strategic Decisions

Objectives:

• Understand sources of complexity in engineering projects

• Differentiate between strategic, tactical, and operational decisions

Topics:

• Characteristics of high-complexity engineering projects

• Sources of complexity: technical, organizational, contractual, regulatory

• Strategic vs. operational decision-making

• Decision-making roles of project and program leaders

• Common decision failures in complex engineering projects

• Systems thinking in engineering decisions

Activities:

• Complexity mapping of a real engineering project

• Self-assessment of decision-making styles

Day 2: Strategic Decision-Making Frameworks & Tools

Objectives:

• Apply structured models to improve decision quality

• Reduce uncertainty and cognitive bias

Topics:

• Strategic decision-making models

• Scenario planning and options analysis

• Cost-benefit and value-based decision analysis

• Risk, uncertainty, and sensitivity analysis

• Data-driven and evidence-based decisions

• Managing incomplete or conflicting information

Activities:

• Scenario analysis workshop

• Case study: evaluating strategic alternatives

Day 3: Decision-Making Under Risk, Uncertainty & Pressure

Objectives:

• Make sound decisions in high-risk and time-critical situations

• Balance speed, accuracy, and accountability

Topics:

• Strategic risk management in complex projects

• Decision-making under uncertainty and ambiguity

• Crisis and emergency decision frameworks

• Trade-off decisions (cost, schedule, quality, safety)

• Ethical and safety-critical decision-making

• Cognitive biases and mitigation techniques

Activities:

• Crisis simulation exercise

• High-pressure decision role-play

Day 4: Governance, Stakeholders & Strategic Alignment

Objectives:

• Improve decisions through effective governance

• Align decisions with stakeholder expectations and strategy

Topics:

• Governance structures in complex engineering projects

• Stakeholder identification and influence analysis

• Managing conflicting stakeholder interests

• Decision rights, escalation, and accountability

• Strategic communication of decisions

• Aligning decisions with organizational and project strategy

Activities:

• Stakeholder mapping workshop

• Decision-governance role-play session

Day 5: Learning, Optimization & Future-Ready Decisions

Objectives:

• Institutionalize learning to improve future decisions

• Build resilient decision-making systems

Topics:

• Post-decision reviews and performance evaluation

• Learning from success and failure

• Knowledge management and lessons learned

• Decision support systems and digital tools

• Global best practices in complex engineering decisions

• Developing a personal and organizational decision-making roadmap

Activities:

• Strategic decision improvement plan

• Participant presentations and peer feedback

• Individual leadership development action plans