College of Business Administration

Department of Management

Course Syllabus

Course Title
Creative Thinking and Problem Solving for
Managers
Course Code
0302363

Spring Semester 2024/2025

 Course Syllabus

Course Title Creative Thinking and Problem Solving for Managers

Course Code 0302363

Credit Hours 3 Contact Hours 45

Course Category Univ. Req. Col. Req. √ Prog. Req. Others

Course Type Compulsory √ Elective

Pre-requisite(s) Norhayati Binti Zakaria

Co-requisite(s) None

Semester Fall Year 2022/2023

Instructors Name Professor Mehmood Khan

Office Location M5 – 113

Tel. No. 3557

Email [email protected]

Lecture Times Tuesdays and Thursdays – 03:30 – 04:45 pm

Office Hours Mondays and Wednesdays – 09:30 – 11:30 am

Course Description (as in the catalogue):

This course aims to enhance the critical and creative thinking of students and to sharpen their
problem-solving skills. This, in turn, prepares them to face the challenges of making good decisions in
the face of complexity, uncertainty, and change; helping them to become better managers and
leaders in their future career.

Course Objectives/Goals:
The course presents a comprehensive, systematic problem-solving framework. Through hands-on
techniques and exercises drawing on realistic examples, students will learn how to approach an ill-
defined problem, identify the real problem, generate and implement the best solution, evaluate what
they learn, and build on that knowledge. The goals of this course are to enable students to:
- Make better decisions through critical and creative thinking
- Develop their personal creative and analytical skills
- Select the best decision given the specific situation using problem solving heuristic

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 - Apply variety of creative problems solving techniques to work related issues and problems
- Transform your creativity into practical business solutions

Course Learning Outcomes:

By the end of successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1. Identify and describe the key creative thinking and problem-solving concepts and terminology.
2. Apply the process of creative problem solving in personal and organizational contexts to
implement changes.
3. Analyze the characteristics, steps and the importance of the heuristic (i.e., a systematic approach)
problem solving process.
4. Develop skills for creative problem solving at individual and organizational levels.
5. Apply creative problem-solving techniques to solve contemporary business challenges.

Alignment of Course Student Learning Outcomes to Program Student Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes Course Learning Outcomes

Identify and describe theories, concepts, and Identify and describe the key creative thinking and
practices in different areas of business. problem-solving concepts and terminology.
Apply theoretical and practical knowledge to Develop skills for creative problem solving at
provide innovative and socially responsible individual and organizational levels.
and sustainable business solutions.
Apply effective conflict and diversity Apply the process of creative problem solving in
management practices to lead change in personal and organizational contexts to implement
diverse business contexts. changes.
Conduct research to identify contemporary Analyze the characteristics, steps and the
business issues and recommend innovative importance of the heuristic (i.e., a systematic
and sustainable solutions. approach) problem solving process.

Evaluate the business trends in the UAE and Apply creative problem-solving techniques to solve
beyond to design innovative solutions that contemporary business challenges.
tackle contemporary challenges.

Weekly Distribution of Course Topics/Contents

Week Topic Comments* Course SLO

1. Course overview
2. An introduction to creative Interactive lecture and critical
thinking & problem solving thinking questions
Chapter 1 main textbook
1
Class exercise: Case Study of
Trending Problems
3. Critical thinking vs. creative Interactive lecture, video, case study
thinking and critical thinking questions
Chapter 4 main textbook
1, 3

Class exercise:

2
Week Topic Comments* Course SLO
4. Skills necessary for effective Interactive lecture, video, case study
problem solving and critical thinking questions

Chapter 4 main textbook

1, 2, 4, 5
Case Study
Leading Like Jeff Bezos Or Elon
Musk: Lessons From Their
Contrasting Styles

5. Blocks to creativity + class and Interactive lecture, case study and

group exercises critical thinking questions

Chapter 2 main textbook

4

Case study
Black Berry: How to destroy
Blackberry $75 Billion Value:
6. Problem solving heuristic step 1: Interactive lecture and practical
Defining the real problem+ class exercise
and group exercises Chapter 3 main textbook

Practical Exercise related to

Problem Solving:

Each group of Students selects one 2, 3, 4, 5

UAE company/organization (e.g.
Etisalat, Du, Careem, Talabat,
Zomato, Emaar, Noon or any other
company or organization of their
choice). Each group then identifies
problems/challenges affecting the
organization. The problems are
presented and discussed in class.
7. Problem solving heuristic- step 2: Interactive lecture and practical
Generating solution + class and exercise
group exercises
Chapter 5 main textbook

Practical Exercise related to Solution 2, 3, 4, 5

Each group then proposes different
solutions to the problems that they
identified related to their chosen
company/organization. The solutions
are presented and discussed in class.

3
Week Topic Comments* Course SLO
8. Midterm exam
9. Problem solving heuristic - step Interactive lecture and practical
3: Deciding the course of actions exercise
+ class and group exercises Chapter 6 & 7 main textbook

Practical Exercise related to

Deciding the Course of Action

Each group uses the

techniques/methods learnt in this 2, 3, 5
course to analyses the different
solutions that they have developed,
and then based on a set of criteria,
using KT problem analysis, they
decide on the most important
solution (and prioritize it over the
less important solutions). These are
presented and discussed in class.
10. Value Proposition Interactive lecture and practical
exercise

Practical Exercise related to Value

Proposition
Each group of students then use the
value proposition canvas to develop
both the profile of customers of their
company that are challenged by
certain problems and value map, in
terms of how their chosen solution
creates value for the company’s
customers.
11. Problem solving heuristic - step Interactive lecture and practical
5: Evaluation the solution + class exercise
and group exercises
Chapter 8 main textbook

Practical Exercise related to Risk

Analysis & Ethics
2, 3, 5
Each group of students create
identifies risks related to their key
solution and how to de-risk the
solution. They also discuss the ethical
issues related to their solution, and
how to ensure that the solution is
ethical

4
 Week Topic Comments* Course SLO
12. Problem solving heuristic - step Interactive lecture and practical
4: Implementing the solution + exercise
class and group exercises
Chapter 9 main textbook
2, 3, 5
Practical Exercise related to
Implementing the Solution
Each group of students creates a
plan of action for implementing their
solution in their chosen company.
13. Additional individual and group Interactive lecture and practical
techniques for idea generation exercise
2, 3, 4, 5
and problem solving + class and
group exercises
14. Presentations Group Project Presentations
15. Review
16. Final exam
* In the comments, you can add the relevant chapter or notes, etc.

Information on Practical Components

Types Assessed Not Assessed

Practical final project √
Case studies √
Simulation
Data analysis
Practical exercises √
The practical components of the exam
Guest speakers
Real-rime reactions
In-class discussions and activities √
Site visits
Role play and interview
Problem-based learning √
Flipped classes
Debates
Project-based learning √
Inquiry-based learning
Service learning

Information on Out-of-Class Assignments with Due Dates for Submission

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 Assignment/Activity Due Date Comments
Group project (see grading rubric in Week 13 Practical creative thinking & problem solving
appendix 2 ) project focused on UAE organizations
Group project presentation Week 13 Presentation of creative thinking & problem
(see grading rubric in appendix 1 ) solving project focused on UAE organizations

Students’ Assessment:
Students are assessed as follows:

Assessment Tool(s)** Date Weight (%)

Group project Week 8 20
Mid-term exam TBA 20
Group project presentation Week 13 10
Assignment Week 13 10
Final exam TBA 40
Total 100
** You can modify / add other tools relevant to the course.

Course Outcome Assessment Plan

Course Learning Teaching/Learning Assessment Performance US Competency Goals

Outcomes Method(s) Tool(s) Indicators
Identify and describe the - Lectures - Exams 70 % of - Work
key creative thinking and - Discussion - Group projects students ethics/professionalis
problem-solving - Case studies - Presentation achieved 70% m
concepts and of the CLO - Leadership skills
terminology. -
Apply the process of - Lectures - Exams 70 % of - Work
creative problem solving - Discussion - Group projects students ethics/professionalis
in personal and - Case studies - Presentation achieved 70% m
organizational contexts - Practical exercise of the CLO - Leadership skills
to implement changes. -
Analyze the - Lectures - Exams 70 % of - Work
characteristics, steps - Discussion - Group projects students ethics/professionalis
and the importance of - Case studies - Presentation achieved 70% m
the heuristic (i.e., a - Practical exercise of the CLO - Leadership skills
systematic approach) -
problem solving process.
Develop skills for - Lectures - Exams 70 % of - Work
creative problem solving - Discussion - Group projects students ethics/professionalis
at individual and - Videos - Presentation achieved 70% m
organizational levels. - Practical exercise - Essay of the CLO - Leadership skills
- Case studies
-
Apply creative problem- - Lectures - Exams 70 % of - Work
solving techniques to - Practical exercise - Group projects students ethics/professionalis
solve contemporary - Case studies - Presentation achieved 70% m
business challenges. of the CLO - Leadership skills
-
Teaching and Learning Resources

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Textbook(s):
Proctor, T. (2021). Absolute essentials of creative thinking and problem solving. Routledge

Recommended readings:
- Griffiths, C. (2019). The creative thinking handbook: Your step-by-step guide to problem
solving in business. Kogan Page Publishers.
- Scott Fogler, H., & LeBlanc, S. E. (2013). Strategies for creative problem solving (3rd ed.).
Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall.
- Puccio, G. J., Mance, M., Switalski, L. B., & Reali, P. D. (2012). Creativity rising: Creative
thinking and creative problem solving in the 21st century. Buffalo, NY: ICSC Press.
- Proctor, T. (2006). Creative problem solving for managers: Developing skills for decision
making and innovation (2nd ed.). Taylor & Francis Ltd.
- Ruggiero, V. R. (2015). The art of thinking: A guide to critical and creative thought (11th ed.).
New York, NY: Longman.

Other Resources

Blackboard resources:
Students enrolled in this course will be given an access to a variety of internet resources, including
course material that will be posted on blackboard. Students are strongly advised to access course
material posted on blackboard for their learning. Course outline, power point slides, assignments,
marks, and other materials will be made available through blackboard.

Electronic resources
- http//www.inc.com
- http//www.jimcollins.com
- http:// hbswk.hbs.edu/
- http//www.gulfbusiness.com
- http//www.wamda.com
- http//www.businessweek.com

Research journals and other periodicals

- Harvard Business Review
- MIT Sloan Management Review
- California Management Review
- Journal of Management
- International Journal of Organizational Analysis
- Management Decision

Attendance Policy:
Attendance is compulsory. A student missing 10% (6 hours) of the total allocated course hours will
receive 1st warning notice and a student missing 15% (9 hours) will receive 2 nd warning notice. A
student missing 20% (12 hours or more) will be forced to withdraw (in accordance with the university
regulations).
Plagiarism/Cheating:

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Students are expected to do their own work. You are allowed to work on assignments in teams only if
specified by the instructor. In other words, students are encouraged to communicate about general
principles of the course, but all assigned homework must be done on an individual basis. The
instructor is available to provide any assistance that you may need. Cheating is considered a serious
offense by the university. You should be aware of the severe penalty for cheating (refer to the
student code of conduct published in the university catalogue).

Code of Conduct:
It is essential that a student abides by the rules of the University and respect everyone else’s property
and rights. However, should a student break the rules of the University and shows disrespect to
instructors and fellow students, he/she should be prepared to bear the consequences of his/her
actions. Below is a list of some of the University violations that call for discipline. It is the student’s
responsibility to read and understand the by-laws regarding the student code of conduct that was
duly approved by the University Board of Trustees in its ninth meeting held on 28/3/2002.
The UOS policies and procedures part of Student Code of Conduct state: “If a student is caught
cheating or about to cheat in an examination or a test, the following penalties are applied to him/her
collectively:
- He/she is failed in the course in which he/she was caught cheating on examination.
- All the other courses in which the student was registered for during the semester in which
he/she was caught cheating, are cancelled.
- The student is dismissed from the University for one full semester following the semester
session in which he/she was caught cheating and the summer is not considered a regular
semester for this purpose. No course completed in any university elsewhere will be counted
for him/her during the period of dismissal from the University.

Academic violations:
- Breaking the laws of the State and the explicit rules of the University.
- Misbehaving in classrooms, laboratories, libraries and all other places in the University.
- Plagiarism: Plagiarism is the act of stealing someone else’s property and claiming it as one’s own.
This property might be a paper, a book, an idea, a computer program, an experiment, an exam
paper, an answer, etc. Being free, a person is entitled to act in accordance with one’s beliefs, but it
is wrong to plagiarize. Therefore, a person caught plagiarizing or stealing will be subjected to the
University’s code of conduct and will be punished accordingly. Students are alerted to this
misdemeanor and are encouraged to behave properly and avoid exposing themselves to the
consequences of this unethical and illegal behavior.
- Inappropriate collaboration: The norm is that close collaboration with others on academic work
requires acknowledgement of other collaborators. Inappropriate collaboration involves working
with others in developing, organizing, or revising a project, which might be a paper, a presentation
of a research or design project, or a take-home examination without acknowledging their help.
- Dishonesty in examinations and submitted work: All academic work and materials submitted for
assessment must be the work of the student. Cheating is not limited to copying from others’ work
and giving unauthorized assistance, but it also includes the use of devices or procedures for the
purpose of achieving false scores on examinations. Students are prohibited from submitting any
material prepared by, or purchased from, another person or company.

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- Work completed for one course and submitted for another: Students may not present the same
work for more than one course. Students are reminded that when incorporating their own past
research in current projects, they need to document such previous work.
- Deliberate falsification of data: Students must not deliberately falsify data or distort supporting
documentation for course work or other academic activity.
- Interference with other students’ work: Students may not intentionally interfere with the work of
others by sabotaging laboratory experiments, research or digital files, giving misleading
information or disrupting class work.
- Copyright violation: Copyright laws govern practices such as making use of printed materials,
duplicating computer software, duplicating images, photo duplicating copy-righted material, and
reproducing audio-visual work. Such practices must be observed. The code of conduct forbids
theft and the unauthorized use of documents.
- Complicity in academic dishonesty: Complicity in academic dishonesty consists of helping or
attempting to help another person commit acts of academic dishonesty or willfully assisting
another student in the violation of the academic code of conduct. It also involves pre-meditated
and intentional acts, such as doing the work, designing or producing a project, willfully providing
answers during an exam, test or quiz for other students; calling a student on a mobile telephone
while taking an exam; providing a student with an advanced copy of a test; leaving inappropriate
materials behind at the site of an exam or test; altering the outcome results of an exam, and so on.

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 Grading Rubrics for Assessed Elements
GROUP PROJECT
You are required to write a report for an existing organization in the UAE. You can pick any company of your
choice and assume that you work for them (e.g. Careem, Talabat, Zomato, Emaar, Noon or any other company or
organization of your choice etc.).

The report should focus on:

 Defining problems that affect the company or its stakeholders (e.g. customers, employees, suppliers
etc.)
 Generating Solutions to the problems through the use of brain storming etc.
 Deciding the Solutions to prioritize, through the use of K.T. Analysis etc.
 Implementation – develop a plan for implementing the solution

Evaluate the risks and ethical issues related to the implementation of the solution

Appendix 1: Grading Rubric for Group Project

Poor Average Good
Excellent
(0-59.99%) (60-79.99%) (80-89.99%)
(90-100%)
Description Max %
Unclear You are able You are able You are able
executive to provide to provide an to provide a
0. EXECUTIVE summary/ deficient or executive detailed and
SUMMARY no inadequate summary, proficient
Provide a one- executive executive which executive
page summary of summary. summary, summarizes summary,
your report, which the key which
covering key summarizes issues summarizes
headings such as 5% the key emerging the key
the defining the issues from the issues
problem, emerging business emerging
generating the from the plan; but the from the
solution, business explanation business
evaluating the plan. is not plan, with
problem etc. detailed or excellent
proficient. sub-heading
headings.
1. Unclear/no You are able to You are able to You are able to
INTRODUCTION explanation provide an provide a good provide a
Provide the of the average explanation of detailed
purpose and purpose and explanation of the purpose and explanation of
rationale for your rationale of the purpose and rationale of the purpose and
5%
project and assignment. rationale of assignment. But rationale of
provide some data assignment. the explanation assignment.
to support your is not detailed or
explanation proficient.
(where possible).
2. VENTURE Unclear/ You are able You are able You are able
DESCRIPTION no to provide a to provide an to provide
SEGMENT explanatio deficient or explanation detailed and
(CURRENT 10% n of inaccurate of proficient
STATUS) your vent explanation the venture explanation
-A description of ure of but the of
the company and the venture. explanation your venture

10
industry should be is not .
covered here detailed or
proficient.
When was the
company
founded? Who
founded it?
Which industry is
it operating in?
What are the
current key
product(s) or
service(s) of the
company?
Is it private or
government
owned?
Any other
relevant
information about
the background of
the company

Unclear/no You are able to You are able to You are able to
explanation provide an provide a good provide a
of the average explanation of detailed
problem explanation of the problem explanation of
affecting the problem affecting your the problem
your chosen affecting your chosen affecting your
company’s chosen company’s chosen
3. DEFINE THE stakeholders company’s stakeholders e.g. company’s
15%
PROBLEM e.g. stakeholders e.g. customers, or stakeholders e.g.
customers, customers, or employees or customers, or
or employees or suppliers employees or
employees suppliers suppliers
or suppliers

Unclear/no You are able to You are able to You are able to
explanation provide a provide a good provide detailed
of basic/simple explanation of explanation of
your solutio explanation of the your solutio your your soluti
n. your solution. n. But the on.
explanation is
4. GENERATE not detailed or
THE 20% proficient.
SOLUTIONS

5. DECIDE THE
SOLUTIONS 10%
TO THE

11
PROBLEM
Use the
knowledge you
have learnt in this
course to evaluate
the different
solutions you
proposed in
section 4.

a. KT Problem
Analysis
Use KT Situation
Analysis, KT
Problem analysis
etc. to decide the
solution

b. Produce the
value proposition
canvas for your
solution covering
both:

Customer profile
Value Map

Unclear/no You are able to You are able to You are able to
explanation provide a provide a good provide detailed
of how you basic/simple explanation of explanation of
will explanation of how you will how you will
6. IMPLEMENT implement how you will implement the implement the
Discuss how you the project. implement the project. But the project and the
will implement project. explanation is explanation is
the project in your not detailed or detailed and
15%
chosen company proficient. proficient.
by explaining the
following:

12
 Unclear/no You are able to You are able to You are able to
explanation provide a provide a good provide detailed
of how you basic/simple explanation of explanation of
will evaluate explanation of how you will how you will
the project. how you will evaluate the evaluate the
evaluate the project. But the project and the
project. explanation is explanation is
7. EVALUATE 20% not detailed or detailed and
proficient. proficient.

8. 5% Unclear You are able to You are able to You are able to
CONCLUSION conclusion, provide a provide a good provide an
without any basic/simple conclusion with excellent
clear conclusion with explanation of conclusion with
explanation basic simple what you think detailed
of what you explanation of can be learned explanation of
think can be what you think from the what you think
learned can be learned report. But the can be learned
from the from the report. explanation is from the report.
report.. not detailed or
proficient.
REFERENCES 5% Unclear/no You are able to You are able to You are able to
reference provide a provide a good provide an
list in APA or basic/simple reference list in excellent a good
Harvard reference list. APA or Harvard reference list in
reference reference APA or Harvard
style. style. But the reference style.
reference style
is not detailed
or proficient.

GROUP PRESENTATION
You are required to present your Group project. Your presentation should be based on your Group Project.

Grading Rubric for Presentation1

Scaled Score: 1/0 2 3 4

Criteria Weight Non- Basic/Fair Proficient Distinguished/
Performance /Good Excellent
/Poor
Coherence 1 Audience cannot Audience has Student presents Student presents
and understand difficulty following information in information in
Organization presentation presentation logical sequence logical, interesting
because there is because student which audience sequence which

1
Adapted from (weights are adjusted): http://www.ncsu.edu/midlink/rub.pres.html

13
 Scaled Score: 1/0 2 3 4
Criteria Weight Non- Basic/Fair Proficient Distinguished/
Performance /Good Excellent
/Poor
no logical flow of jumps around. can follow. audience can
ideas. follow.
Subject 2 Student does not Student is Student is at ease Student
Knowledge have grasp of uncomfortable with expected demonstrates full
information; with information answers to all knowledge (more
student cannot and is able to questions but fails than required) by
answer questions answer only to elaborate. answering all class
about subject. rudimentary questions with
questions. explanations and
elaboration.
Quality of 5 Student's Presentation has Presentation has a Presentation has
Content and presentation has some misspellings few misspellings no misspellings or
Visuals many spelling and/or and/or grammatical
errors and/or grammatical grammatical errors. Student's
grammatical errors. Student errors. Student's graphics explain
errors. Student occasionally uses graphics relate to and reinforce
uses superfluous graphics that text and screen text and
graphics or no rarely support text presentation. presentation.
graphics. and presentation.

CONTENT
 Defining
problems
that affect
the
company or
its
stakeholder
s

 Deciding
the
Solutions to
prioritize,
through the
use of K.T.
Analysis
etc.

 Implementa
tion –

 Evaluate
the risks
and ethical
issues
related to
the
implementa
tion of the
solution
Posture and 1 Student reads all Student Student maintains Student maintains
Eye Contact of report with no occasionally uses eye contact most eye contact with
eye contact. eye contact, but of the time but audience, seldom
still reads most of frequently returns returning to
report. to notes. notes.
Elocution 1 Student mumbles, Student's voice is Student's voice is Student uses a

14
 Scaled Score: 1/0 2 3 4
Criteria Weight Non- Basic/Fair Proficient Distinguished/
Performance /Good Excellent
/Poor
incorrectly low. Student clear. Student clear voice and
pronounces incorrectly pronounces most correct, precise
terms, and speaks pronounces words correctly. pronunciation of
too quietly for terms. Audience Most audience terms so that all
students in the members have members can hear audience
back of class to difficulty hearing presentation. members can hear
hear. presentation. presentation.

15