A Highly Interactive Training Course On
Systems Thinking for Strategic Decision-Making and Innovation
Harnessing Interconnected Perspectives to Shape Smarter Strategies and Drive Breakthrough Innovation
Course Introduction
Modern organizations are confronted by a world of unprecedented complexity. Markets evolve rapidly, technologies advance at exponential rates, and social, environmental, and political forces interact in unpredictable ways. Traditional management approaches that rely on linear cause-and-effect thinking often fall short when dealing with such dynamic environments. To remain competitive and resilient, leaders must adopt new cognitive tools capable of perceiving the bigger picture, anticipating patterns, and understanding how decisions in one area can have profound consequences across the entire system.
Systems Thinking offers precisely such a paradigm. It encourages managers and decision-makers to move beyond isolated perspectives and to view organizations, industries, and societies as interconnected, living systems. This holistic discipline enables leaders to see structures beneath events, detect feedback loops, identify leverage points, and design interventions that produce lasting, positive change.
This Systems Thinking for Strategic Decision-Making and Innovation training course explores how Systems Thinking can transform strategic decision-making and innovation practices. Participants will learn to analyze complexity, map interdependencies, and manage uncertainty by applying tested tools and frameworks derived from systems dynamics, complexity science, and innovation management. The course combines conceptual insight with practical application, ensuring participants not only understand systems thinking principles but can also apply them directly to real-world challenges within their organizations.
By blending strategic foresight, systems mapping, and creative innovation methods, this course helps participants build organizations that are agile, adaptive, and future-ready. Through hands-on exercises, case studies, and scenario simulations, delegates will leave equipped to design systemic solutions that align innovation with sustainable, long-term strategic goals.
Training Objectives
By the end of this training course, participants will be able to:
- Develop a profound understanding of systems thinking concepts, principles, and their application in organizational contexts
- Diagnose complex business and policy problems through systemic mapping and feedback analysis
- Identify leverage points to drive meaningful change and innovation
- Recognize patterns of behavior, delays, and unintended consequences within systems
- Integrate systems thinking into strategic planning, innovation design, and performance management processes
- Apply systems dynamics tools to improve decision quality and adaptability
- Combine systems thinking with design thinking, foresight, and artificial intelligence to create smarter, data-driven strategies
- Cultivate a systems culture that promotes learning, collaboration, and long-term sustainability
Training Methodology
This training course will utilise a variety of proven adult learning techniques to ensure maximum understanding, comprehension and retention of the information presented. This includes an interactive mixture of lecture-led learning & group discussions.
Who should Attend?
This training course is suitable to a wide range of professionals but will greatly benefit:
- Executives, general managers, and department heads responsible for strategic planning and organizational development
- Innovation and transformation leaders seeking holistic frameworks for sustainable growth
- Policy-makers, planners, and regulators operating in multi-stakeholder environments
- Business analysts, consultants, and strategic advisors involved in process redesign and organizational improvement
- Project and program managers managing multi-layered initiatives with systemic interdependencies
- Senior professionals from both private and public sectors who aim to enhance systemic awareness and decision effectiveness
Course Outline
- The evolution of systems thinking: from mechanical to living systems
- The principles of holism, interdependence, and feedback
- Linear vs. circular causality: shifting from event-driven to structure-driven thinking
- Identifying systems, subsystems, and boundaries in real-world organizations
- Mental models and how they shape perception and decision-making
- Practical activity: uncovering hidden systems in organizational structures
- Group discussion: why systems thinking matters in the 21st-century enterprise
- Understanding stocks, flows, and feedback loops
- Causal loop diagramming and behavior-over-time analysis
- Common systemic archetypes: “limits to growth,” “fixes that fail,” “shifting the burden,” and others
- How feedback loops create organizational behavior and performance outcomes
- Mapping complexity: tools for visualizing and analyzing systemic interactions
- Identifying leverage points and high-impact interventions
- Workshop: mapping the feedback structure of a current strategic challenge
- How systemic analysis improves strategy formulation and execution
- Recognizing unintended consequences of strategic choices
- Linking systems thinking to strategic foresight and scenario planning
- Tools for navigating uncertainty and volatility in decision environments
- Case studies: systemic failures and successes in corporate and government strategies
- Practical exercise: developing a systemic decision-making framework
- Reflection: translating systems insights into strategic advantage
- Innovation as a systemic process: creativity, iteration, and adaptation
- Integrating systems thinking with design thinking, lean innovation, and agile practices
- Building innovation ecosystems and cross-functional collaboration structures
- Understanding systemic enablers and barriers to innovation
- Using systems mapping to redesign value chains and business models
- Case study: how leading organizations use systems thinking to accelerate innovation
- Interactive lab: designing a systems-based innovation blueprint
- Embedding systems thinking into leadership and organizational culture
- Systems thinking and artificial intelligence: decision-augmentation and predictive modeling
- Monitoring systemic health and resilience: key performance indicators and feedback metrics
- Managing change through systemic awareness and communication
- Developing a culture of learning and continuous improvement
- Capstone project: applying systems thinking to a real strategic or innovation problem
- Final presentations, feedback, and action planning
Providers and Associations
Certificates
- COPEX Certificate of Attendance will be provided to delegates who attend and complete the course
Material published by Copex shown here is copyrighted. All rights reserved. Any unauthorized copying, distribution, use, dissemination, downloading, storing (in any medium), transmission, reproduction or reliance in whole or any part of this course outline is prohibited and will constitute an infringement of copyright.
COPEX Training is your gateway to professional growth, with over 20 years of experience turning potential into success. Each year, we deliver over 1,000 courses in 50+ countries, earning a stellar 98% satisfaction rate. Trusted by global giants like BP, the United Nations, and HSBC, we partner with top certification bodies to provide career-focused training that empowers individuals and drives organizational breakthroughs. Our mission? To transform the way professionals learn and grow in today’s fast-changing industries. Through expert insights, cutting-edge methods, and hands-on approaches, we equip you with the skills and confidence to tackle challenges, seize opportunities, and thrive in your career.
Led by a passionate leadership team and supported by a network of world-class trainers, COPEX Training connects professionals worldwide with life-changing opportunities. We are committed to excellence, ensuring every participant leaves with the tools, expertise, and confidence to conquer an ever-evolving world.
Frequently Asked Questions
This FAQ section provides quick answers to the most common questions about our services, procedures, and policies. We aim to make your experience with us as straightforward as possible. For further assistance, our support team is ready to help.
Enhanced Skills: Develop in-demand skills and knowledge in your chosen field.
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Improved Job Performance: Enhance your productivity, efficiency, and job satisfaction.
Personal Growth: Develop valuable personal and professional skills that can benefit you in all areas of life.
Experienced Instructors: Courses are delivered by highly qualified and experienced instructors with industry expertise.
Interactive Learning: Engaging and interactive learning methods, including workshops, simulations, case studies, and group discussions.
Practical Application: Focus on practical skills and real-world applications, enabling you to apply your learning immediately.
Flexible Learning Options: A variety of course formats available, including classroom training, online courses, and blended learning.
Certification & Recognition: Upon successful completion, you may receive industry-recognized certifications.
There are several ways to register in our public training courses:
Online – Browse the Training Plan, select the course of choice, click on the button
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Upon successful registration, processing window will take not more than 24 hours from the time of registration. An email including the registration confirmation, invoice and joining instructions will be sent to the provided email address.
Published training course fees are inclusive of the training venue, training manual, writing materials, lunch and coffee breaks with refreshments over the entire duration of the training course.
The training course fee can be settled by either:
- Bank transfer
- Credit Card
Our training courses will run for 5 hours per day. The standard daily timing is from 8:30 am – 3:30 pm including the coffee/tea breaks and lunch.
Our training courses courses are being held at five-star hotels in prime and iconic destinations across the globe. Cities such as Amsterdam, Barcelona, Dubai, Geneva, Istanbul, Kuala Lumpur, London, Houston, New York, Paris, Vienna, Zurich, etc.
Once officially registered, we can assist by providing the corporate rates provided by the hotel where the training course will be conducted. Early confirmation will enable us to secure the room at reduced rates
Our cancellation policy varies depending on the circumstances presented. Generally, cancellations must be initiated in formal writing at least 14 days prior to the commencement date of the training course. Further, the option to shift an existing registration to another training course on a later date is possible. Otherwise, a full refund will be initiated.
Delegates who will attend and successfully complete the training course will earn a COPEX Certificate of Completion. This certification is designed to validate the successful knowledge transfer, and that the desired learning objectives and outcomes to further advance your professional competency are achieved.
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