Logical Thinking Seminar

LightHouse2
Business Thinking
Enhancement Seminar

Prepared by
Sugiyama Management Development Ltd (SMD)
 Index
Objective of the seminar
ⅠImportance of Logical Thinking
ⅡProblem Solving
Ⅲ Identifying Problems

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 Objective of the Seminar

To become capable of:

１． Understand the situation in logical way.
２． Sort out one’s own opinion in logical way.
３． Identify the problem in logical way.
４． Think up how to solve the problem in logical way.
５． Communicating one’s idea in logical way.
 in an ordinary business context.

Logical Thinking is: Methodology and training to enable

logical thinking.

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Ⅰ ． Importance of Logical Thinking
Ⅰ. Importance of Logical Thinking
・ On surface, everybody seems to agree on what is being discussed
but actually they are thinking differently.
・ We do not pursue what is really important but unwittingly tackle
something that we are used to or what we like.
・ We seemed to work on the same thing but the objective was
different.

We cannot achieve the objective nor engage in fruitful discussion when above are
the case. In business in particular, it is critical that we talk in such way that the
content can be agreed by a third party to secure efficiency, effectiveness and
persuasiveness. In decision making, too, we should focus on the plan and
probability rather than relying on chance to achieve the objective.

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Ⅰ. Importance of Logical Thinking
In business, Logical Thinking is the basis to
decide the development and success of all:

◆Communication

◆Persuasion

◆Understanding

◆Thinking

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Ⅰ. Importance of Logical Thinking
• Exercise 1: Recall a case in the daily work in which
① Communication was difficult
② Persuasion was difficult.
③ You were not understood appropriately.
and try to share the experience among the group. Choose one example
and discuss and decide the reason why things did not work out.

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Ⅱ ． Problem Solving
 Ⅱ. Problem Solving
１． Structuring the Problem Solving
Here, we proceed from structuring the problem to structuring the solution in
order to solve the problems identified through previous process.

２． WHAT （ Problem ）　 ⇒　　 HOW （ to solve ）

what Problem event The real problem to

be solved
How do we do it? How do we do it?
How

Solution Solution
Substantiation
How
How do we do it? How do we do it?

Solution Solution Solution Solution

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 Reminding
Possibly weighting
Importance and priority between the items
Often times, it is not possible or appropriate to solve or tackle all problems.
That is when evaluation of importance and priority is necessary.

Example: Importance and priority of solutions

Factor to be Effect to revenue Emergency Effect to this year’s Frequency

considered performance
Problem A High Low Low High

Problem B Low High Low Middle

Problem C Low High High Middle

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 Ⅱ. Problem Solving
Exercise:
Increasing the recognition of XXX Group is important in increasing the
revenue. Think about how the recognition could be increased.
Replace the exercise to
easier and more
understandable one

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 Ⅱ. Problem Solving
Exercise:
If the group companies of XXX Group can cooperate with each other to
create synergy effect, revenuethe
Replace andexercise
competitiveness
to could be improved.
Make proposal of how this could be achieved.
easier and more
understandable one

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 Ⅱ. Problem Solving
Exercise: Choose one problem in your workplace, structure the cause and
think up the solution.

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Ⅲ ． Identifying Problems
 Ⅲ ． Identifying Problems
１． What is problem?
① Problem does not exist in itself. It exists only through the consciousness of
other person.

② The critical issue is what to do when the problem is solved.

③ Problem without action to solve it is not a problem.

２． How the problem can be identified?

① Keep asking “why this is like this?” Soon, you could think “this is not right.”

② Never think “this is enough.” Always think “could be better.”

③ Never say “cannot do” but say “it should be able to get done.”

④ Write down everything. Think at the spot where question was raised.

⑤ Continue learning so that an event can be examined from different angles.

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 Ⅲ ． Identifying Problems
Why can’t you see?!
 
　 Have you ever had a case like these?
 
・ I explained thoroughly but was misunderstood.
・ My boss never approve my idea.
・ My superiors don’t understand the necessity of making a new
approach to our problems.
・ I thought I knew the issue well, but after the question, I lost
my way.
・ Nobody understands that the issue is too complex to solve.

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 Wrap-up
1. Let’s confirm my objective (what I perceive as a problem).

2. Let’s confirm the fact.

3. Let’s sort the facts.

4. Let’s clarify the problem.

5. Let’s craft a logical hypothesis on the problem and the cause.

6. Let’s examine the priority and method of solution.

7. Let’s choose the subject and method of solution.

8. Let’s confirm if other people can understand. (Try one more time
if not successful.)

9. Let’s set up the action plan.

10. Let’s do it.

11. Let’s see if there is better way to do it after the action. （ PDCA)

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