Strategic Problem Solving: A Common Language, A Shared Approach

Wednesday, October 3, 2012
8:00am to 4:00pm
$190  Presidio Students and Alumni: $100

This course has passed.

How do you engage the power of diverse stakeholders without getting mired in indecision?

This Intensive Course will provide clear and practical tools to bridge silos both within and outside your organization using the ISIS Method (Indicators—Systems—Innovation—Strategy) developed by Alan AtKisson and used as part of the curriculum in the Presidio degree programs.

Every team, organization, and coalition has its own language, processes, and culture. This can create challenges in a world where diverse stakeholders come together to problem solve. Differences in values, priorities, and interests necessitate a common language and approach for effective communication and the ability to affect change.

The ISIS Method enables you develop and manage a shared vision in groups comprising both supportive and antagonistic stakeholders – while still respecting their different perspectives. The ISIS Method allows change agents to move organizations forward where collective processes sometimes stall.

These skills will equip your organization to:

• Minimize risk and negative unexpected consequences and identify new opportunities
• Improve capacity to work with diverse stakeholders
• Unleash the ROI potential of sustainability-based innovation and strategy

Who Should Attend:

• Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) professionals
• Strategy professionals
• Facilitators and conflict resolution professionals
• External or community affairs professionals
• Community organizers
• Non-profit and government agency managers
• Sustainability officers (and aspiring sustainability officers)
• Green Teams
• Anyone engaging internal or external stakeholder groups
• Anyone pursuing sustainability in organizations
• Anyone in a collective decision making environment

Course Topics and Exercises:

• The ISIS Method and Compass
• Common language development
• Indicator development
• Sustainability Innovation
• Sustainability Leadership
• Systems Thinking exercise
• Perception exercise
• Thought and action exercise
• “Amoeba” change management role play
• Hula Hoop strategy exercise*

Pre-Course Reading:

Fast Company April Issue: The Great Tech War of 2012

About the Instructor

Roberta Fernandez is a Senior Associate with the AtKisson Group and Lead Trainer for ISIS Academy USA. She holds a Sustainability Certification from the International Society of Sustainability Professionals and is a Certified Score and Spark Assessor. She was one of the first 50 volunteers to be selected and personally trained by Al Gore to present his acclaimed climate change message to the public, and helped train over 1,000 additional presenters in her role as Senior Mentor for the Climate Project. An entrepreneur for more than 25 years, Roberta’s vast experience in sales and management in the corporate world, and as a Certified Financial Planner for American Express, allow her to relate to the relevant needs and priorities of the business world. 

Classes will be held at:
Presidio Graduate School
36 Lincoln Boulevard
San Francisco, CA 94129

For more information, contact Ryan Cabinte, Faculty Director, at ryan.cabinte@presidioedu.org or 415-655-8956.

*You’ll have to show up to find out what the Hula Hoop strategy exercise is!