Academy

Systems Thinking Training

In a world filled with complex challenges, mastering the art of Systems Thinking can be the key to unlocking innovative solutions.

CCIPR Academy, Ascent Group, together with Dr Robert Collins were bringing for the first time in Romania the Systems Thinking course, in 2023, in Timișoara. This year we are returning with first module ever organised in Bucharest. Dr. Collins has been teaching multiple courses in business and technology at Oxford University in the UK for over 25 years and is an expert in Business Improvement, Complex Systems and Systems Thinking.

This training is ideal for professionals from diverse backgrounds who want to enhance their problem-solving and decision-making skills. Whether you’re a manager, leader, change agent or entrepreneur, Systems Thinking can revolutionize the way you approach complex challenges.

About the topic

In contrast to traditional analysis, which focuses on studying each element separately, Systems Thinking  provides a holistic perspective, allowing us to see the big picture and uncover hidden patterns, thus enabling System Thinkers to have a long-lasting impact on their organizations and the wider world. 

This topic has found applications in many fields including business change, medicine, environment and sustainability, politics, economics, human resources, educational systems, and others.

What problems does Systems Thinking address?

It is not uncommon to try to solve problems and make changes only to see our ‘solutions’ fail and for our changes not to have impact. We are often confronted by the unexpected and frustrated by lack of progress. It may feel as if we are battling against a hidden enemy that resists every possible change. That ‘enemy’ is complexity. Complexity arises naturally in nearly all aspects of human endeavor. 

We can’t remove complexity completely – but we can use tools, techniques, patterns and models to help navigate complexity. This course will enable participants first to recognize situations in which ‘obvious’ solutions are doomed to failure. Then it will provide methods and skills to give a much greater chance of success in the face of complexity.

Some of the tools and methods are ‘technical’ – but most are humanistic: enabling teams of collaborating individuals to share a common understanding of problems, potential solutions and likely obstacles.

Systems Thinking moves thinking ‘up a level’. Rather than battling the small stuff, that can wreck projects, change and improvement, System Thinking enables powerful thinking to achieve greater success. 

Course objectives

• Familiarizing participants with the main concepts of Systems Thinking
• Developing the ability to analyze and identify the causes and consequences within a system
• Acquiring specific Systems Thinking working tools
• Enhancing participants’ capacity to create and improve systems

Key Themes

• What is Systems Thinking (ST)? Why is it important? 
• What can ST improve or change?
• When should we apply Systemic Thinking? When is it useful?
• Why are things so complex and how can we manage complexity? 
• What tools can we use to understand causes and consequences and improve our chances of success?
• Why do some things come back to bite us? (Causal loops)
• Why can things escalate so quickly and what can we do about it?
• How can we apply patterns, models and ‘archetypes’ to understanding common complex situations?
• How can we understand change and dynamics? Practical models and methods for understanding change and flow

What do you gain by participating?

• Develop a deep understanding of Systems Thinking principles and concepts.
• Acquire practical skills to analyze and map complex situations, identifying feedback loops and interdependencies.
• Gain the ability to anticipate unintended consequences and identify leverage points for positive change.
• Foster innovation and collaboration by recognizing the broader context for any problem.
• Gain a competitive advantage by adopting a powerful mindset for understanding complexity.
• Learn how to address intricate challenges with confidence and creativity.
• Network with like-minded professionals and be part of a community passionate about Systems Thinking.

About the trainer

Dr. Robert Collins is a business consultant and educator who has been delivering courses through the University of Oxford for over 25 years. 

His extensive experience, gained through consulting activities with both public entities (British government) and private entities (Smiths Industries, GM Finance, GMAC, Lockheed Martin), has helped him develop an extensive and highly applicable methodology for Systems Thinking, a subject he passionately speaks about. 

The beneficiaries of his courses have succeeded in implementing significant and lasting changes in their organizations, thereby improving their businesses.

Additional information

This program will run over the course of 2 days, in Bucharest. Participants to the training will receive more specific guidelines and logistical details prior to the kick-off of the course.

The training will be delivered in English.

The Systems Thinking course will be highly interactive, with many practical examples and activities.

The course will mostly focus on skills, methods and tools that everybody can use in their organisation and in workshop sessions. However, there will be a short section where course participants will have the opportunity to use an Internet-based computer tool that can be helpful in this area. Attendees are invited to bring their own laptop computers if they would like to use this tool using their own IT. No software installation will be required as this is 100% web-based and the tool will be available for all attendees to use after the course finishes. We will also provide a small number of computers which we will make available for attendees who are not able to bring their own.

Fees

Included in the fee:

• full access to the 2 days of training (16 hours)
• delivery of this program by Dr. Robert Collins, business consultant and educator who has been delivering courses through the University of Oxford for over 25 years
• the costs for licenses, materials and activities employed in the training
• participation certificate
• lunch and coffee breaks on both training days

The quoted fees are not VAT inclusive.

Organizations that sign up multiple participants may benefit from discounts:

• 5% discount for the 2nd participant
• 10% discount for the 3rd participant

For those companies that are already Ascent clients we offer an additional 10% discount to the fee.

Please contact us for more information: segreteria@ccipr.ro

The course is aimed at sales people who want to understand financial principles that help them sell and influence sales profitability by applying them.

Sales force efficiency plays a key role in the success or business failure of the company. Increasing sales volume, making or exceeding sales fairs is very important for the development of the company. At the same time, financial information is also important in the decision to sell.

But we all want the sales force to understand the importance of money flow and profitability for the company. Realize their role in identifying and selling clients with a safe financial profile.

This training helps you understand how finance works, the need for financial and sales collaboration to ensure that the organization will have profitable sales. Who is it for?

This training is aimed at all sales people who want to understand financial principles that help them sell and influence sales profitability by applying them.

Course objectives

Acquisition of basic financial concepts useful in sales activity

Identification of clients with a safe or credit risk profile

Improve customer financial analysis skills

Acquisition of key performance indicators

The course modules

The importance of finance in the sales process

Important financial concepts, use of financial reports

Budget – a tool for sales planning and control

The importance of cost-effectiveness

The credit risk of a new client

Cash flow and its importance

Discounting and profit reduction

Debt prevention, follow-up of overdue accounts

Analysis of competitors’ information, key performance indicators

Costo : 370 Euro/persona. I membri della CCIPR godono di uno sconto del 10%

Negotiation techniques

The course is addressed to managers frequently involved in negotiation processes, but also to other people who want to improve their negotiating skills.

Throughout our lives, every moment, each of us has a desire, interest or different point of view, often different from that of others. Each of us can convince someone or be convinced of that person. Leading the negotiation process is a key step toward making profit. There are many negotiating techniques that we can learn. From learning and implementing them to achieving the desired results, however, there is a route that requires experience on the one hand, but also the acquisition of those techniques and attitudes appropriate to their own style. How can you choose the best attitude for a successful negotiation today and also the conditions for a rewarding future collaboration? This is where the key to negotiation lies.  Who is it for?

The course is addressed to managers frequently involved in negotiation processes, but also to other people who want to improve their negotiating skills.

Course objectives

Knowledge of the main issues related to the negotiation process

Determining the level of power in negotiation

Acquisition of negotiating techniques and strategies

Assessing your own style of negotiation

Awareness of cultural differences in negotiation

The course modules

The elements of negotiation

Identify personal bargaining style, strengths and areas for improvement

Types of negotiators

Negotiating styles and approaches

Negotiation strategies

Negotiation stages

Negotiating positions

Principles of influence

Avoiding traps in negotiation

Win-win approach

What does a good negotiator mean?

Cultural differences in negotiation

Cost: 370 Euros per person. Members of the CCIPR enjoy a 10% discount.

Finance for non-financials

The course is especially targeted at managers, executives who require a general understanding of financial management issues that influence effective decision-making.

How important is financial information to any manager in making the decision? What is the role of budget budgets and budget activity? What is P&L cash flow, profit and loss account? What are the costs and their importance in the decision-making process? How do we interpret financial analysis indicators?

Although the economic and financial reports provided by the company’s economic departments are important tools for the decision-making system and the management of a company, it is sometimes difficult for a non-financier to use them effectively. Some managers may consider that financial information is only a company’s obligation in relation to state tax institutions.

Our course aims to help you understand the notions in the financial reports, to use them effectively in decision making.

Who is it for?

The course is especially targeted at managers, executives who require a general understanding of financial management issues.

Course Objectives

• Understanding of the basic principles and customary terms used in the financial statements
• The evaluation and use of the financial information submitted
• Awareness of financial information in decision-making
• Understanding the different types of costs, how they influence the decision-making process
• Raising awareness of the role of budgets and budgetary activity
• Description of the main tools and methods for assessing the efficiency of profit centers

Course Modules

• General financial accounting concepts
• Use of financial reports
• Their costs and importance for the decision-making process
• Budget as a planning and control tool
• Cash-flow – understanding and management
• Understanding the profit and loss account (P&L)
• Assessment of investment projects
• Evaluation of financial results
• Performance indicators (profitability, liquidity, investment valuation and financing)
• Profit vs. cash flow

Dates & Times

• 29 March 2022; 10:00 – 12:30
• 1st April 2022; 10:00 – 12:30
• 5 Aprili 2022; 10:00 – 12:30
• 8 April 2022; 10:00 – 12:30
• 12 April 2022; 10:00 – 12:30
• 15 April 2022; 10:00 – 12:30

Fees

370 Euro/person.

EarlyBird: Applications submitted by the 28th of February 2022 will benefit from a 10% discount of the tuition fees

In addition, members of the Italian Chamber of Commerce will benefit from a supplementary 10% discount applied to the EarlyBird price.