Solve the Problem, Not the Symptom with Teresa Lawrence

What You Will Learn

Upon completion of this training, learners will be able to: 

  • Identify the real problems inhibiting project success, produce novel and useful solutions, and effectively negotiate conflict.
  • Demonstrate an ability to think critically and problem-solve on demand and to address complex and ambiguous project challenges.
  • Apply tools and techniques outlined in A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) and all standards documents.

Description

Has your team ever solved a project challenge only to have it surface again? All too often, the problem that gets identified and solved isn’t the true issue, it’s just a symptom of a larger issue!

Wouldn’t it be great to effectively identify the real problem and the critical issues that must be addressed to solve these project challenges? This training will teach you how to accurately frame the scope of your problem as well as invite alternative perspectives that can help solutions become apparent. Divergent thinking (the broad search for diverse and novel alternatives) and convergent thinking (the focused and affirmative evaluation of alternatives) and their roles in strategic problem-solving will be reviewed and practiced. This training will help you add these new ways of thinking to your problem-solving toolkit to address critical issues (the problems behind the problem) and reach your desired future state.

AGENDA

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    • Traits of the Creative Problem-Solver
    • Dynamic Balance of Divergent and Convergent Thinking
    • Diverging to Ideate
    • Diverging to Clarify
    • Application to Project 

PDU Allocation Table

The table below displays the number of professional development units (PDUs) awarded for each PMI® credential, as they align to the PMI Talent Triangle®. Power Skills and Business Acumen PDUs apply evenly across all credentials and Ways of Working PDUs apply only to specific credentials. PDUs will be added in full to all eligible credentials. *Please note that the asterisked row below applies to the PMI® Agile Certification Journey and includes Disciplined Agile® Scrum Master (DASM), Disciplined Agile® Senior Scrum Master (DASSM), Disciplined Agile® Coach (DAC), and Disciplined Agile® Value Stream Consultant (DAVSC) certifications.
Ways of Working Power Skills Business Acumen Total
CAPM® / PMI-CP™ / PMP® / PgMP® 3 1 0 4.00
PMI-ACP® / Agile* 0 1 0 1.00
PMI-SP® 0 1 0 1.00
PMI-RMP® 0 1 0 1.00
PfMP® 0 1 0 1.00
PMI-PBA® 0 1 0 1.00
Ways of Working Power Skills Business Acument Talent Triangle

Instructor(s)

Teresa

Teresa Lawrence PMP

Teresa Lawrence, PhD, PMP, CSM, provides keynoting, training and facilitation in the application of Creative Problem Solving to project management. Additionally, she consults as a project manager and provides professional services in project management, Agile mindset development, and PMP certification training. Since September 2017, over 85K project managers have participated in Teresa’s trainings, workshops, presentations, and webinars and earned PDUs. Teresa is an alum of the International Center for Studies in Creativity (ICSC) at Buffalo State College. She is the past recipient of Buffalo Business First “Women of Influence” and the University at Buffalo Graduate School of Education “Distinguished Alumni” award. Teresa is a previous superintendent of schools and the current president of International Deliverables, LLC, a certified WBE.

Training Information

PDUs
4
Level
Intermediate
Date
16 September 2025
Start Time
9:00 AM
Length
4 Hours

Price

Member Price
US$518.00
(US$492.00 before 21 July)
Nonmember Price
US$654.00
(US$622.00 before 21 July)
Government Price
US$440.00
Student Price
US$206.00

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