Business, Commerce and Management Studies Generic Management

Systems Approach to Decision Making Training

SAQA US 252026 | NQF 5 | Credits 6 | Duration 3 Days
From $967 per delegate

Description

This course equips learners with the ability to apply a systems approach to decision making within a business context. Participants will learn to identify, analyse, and evaluate interrelationships between various components of a system to make informed decisions. The course focuses on practical application, enabling learners to improve organisational effectiveness through holistic thinking.

Learning Outcomes

  • Apply systems thinking principles to identify and analyse the components and interrelationships within a given organisational system.
  • Evaluate the impact of decisions on different parts of a system, considering both short-term and long-term consequences.
  • Design decision-making processes that incorporate feedback loops and stakeholder inputs.
  • Implement a systems approach to solve complex problems by considering the whole system rather than isolated parts.
  • Analyse case studies to demonstrate how a systems approach leads to more sustainable and effective decisions.
  • Demonstrate the ability to communicate system-based decisions clearly to relevant stakeholders.

Target Audience

This course is designed for managers, team leaders, supervisors, and professionals who are responsible for making decisions that impact multiple facets of an organisation. It is also suitable for individuals seeking to enhance their strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.

Prerequisites

None — open enrollment.

Course Outline

Day 1: Foundations of Systems Thinking

Objectives:
• Define systems thinking and its relevance to decision making.
• Identify the key characteristics of a system.
• Distinguish between linear and systemic approaches.
• Understand feedback loops and their role in systems.
• Apply basic systems mapping techniques.

Topics:
• Introduction to systems thinking.
• Key concepts: elements, interconnections, purpose.
• Linear vs. systemic thinking.
• Feedback loops: reinforcing and balancing.
• Systems mapping: causal loop diagrams.
• Case studies of systemic problems.
• Group exercise: mapping a simple system.

Day 2: Decision-Making Models and Tools

Objectives:
• Describe various decision-making models and their applications.
• Use systems tools to analyse complex decisions.
• Evaluate trade-offs and unintended consequences.
• Apply scenario planning and simulation.
• Integrate stakeholder perspectives into decisions.

Topics:
• Decision-making models: rational, bounded rationality, intuitive.
• Systems tools: stock-and-flow diagrams, systems archetypes.
• Trade-off analysis and unintended consequences.
• Scenario planning and simple simulation exercises.
• Stakeholder analysis and mental models.
• Group activity: decision analysis using systems tools.

Day 3: Integrating Systems Approach into Practice

Objectives:
• Synthesise systems thinking and decision-making frameworks.
• Apply a systems approach to a real-world case study.
• Develop recommendations considering systemic impacts.
• Communicate systemic insights to stakeholders.
• Reflect on personal decision-making habits.

Topics:
• Integrating systems thinking with decision processes.
• Real-world case study analysis.
• Developing systemic recommendations.
• Communicating complexity: visualisation and storytelling.
• Action planning for applying systems approach.
• Final group presentation and peer feedback.

Practicals

No practicals for this training.

This course is made up of exercises and case studies delivered alongside the theory — no separate practical sessions are required to complete it.

Summatives

Each delegate is assessed continuously throughout the course and a final summative test at the end.

Daily Exercises — 30%

Every training day ends with a multiple-choice exercise scored out of 100%. The scores from each daily exercise are averaged across the duration of the course to produce a Daily Average mark, which contributes 30% to the final total.

Final Test — 70%

On the last day a final summative test is written. It is a multiple-choice paper with multiple-answer questions: each question may have more than one correct option, and a single wrong selection on a question marks the entire question wrong — no partial credit. The final test is scored out of 100% and contributes 70% to the overall mark.

Final Total
Component Out of Weight
Daily Average (multiple choice) 100% 30%
Final Test (multi-answer multiple choice) 100% 70%
Final Total 100%

All marks are recorded on the AATICD LMS and visible to each learner under their account.

Certificate

Certificate of Completion

Awarded to delegates who achieve an overall mark of 50% or higher on the Final Total (Daily Average 30% + Final Test 70%).

How it works
  • Certificates are auto-generated on the AATICD LMS as soon as the marks pass the 50% threshold.
  • Each certificate is a branded PDF with the delegate's name, the course title, the unit standard ID, NQF level, credits, and the date of issue.
  • You can download or print your certificate from your LMS dashboard at any time after issue — there's no reissue fee and no expiry date.
  • If you scored under 50% you can sit the final test again at the next scheduled session at no extra cost.
Where to find it

Sign in to the LMS, open your dashboard, and your certificates appear under My Certificates. Each entry has a View / Download button and a print option.

Training Discounts

Group discounts apply automatically — the more delegates you enrol, the greater the saving. Discounts are calculated at 3% per 5 delegates, scaling up to 40% off for 100+ delegates.

Delegates Discount
5 3% off
10 6% off
15 9% off
20 12% off
25 15% off
30 18% off
50 30% off
75 35% off
100 40% off

3% discount per 5 delegates, up to 40% off for 100+ delegates. Contact us for a custom group quote.

Upcoming Training Sessions
Online training — attend live sessions from anywhere via our virtual classroom.
Start End Delivery Season Price Action
Mon 07 Sep 2026 Wed 09 Sep 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $967 Register
Wed 30 Sep 2026 Fri 02 Oct 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $967 Register
Tue 20 Oct 2026 Thu 22 Oct 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $967 Register
Mon 07 Dec 2026 Wed 09 Dec 2026 Virtual Summer 2026 $967 Register
Wed 13 Jan 2027 Fri 15 Jan 2027 Virtual Summer 2026 $967 Register
Tue 16 Feb 2027 Thu 18 Feb 2027 Virtual Summer 2026 $967 Register
Mon 01 Mar 2027 Wed 03 Mar 2027 Virtual Autumn 2027 $967 Register
Wed 10 Mar 2027 Fri 12 Mar 2027 Virtual Autumn 2027 $967 Register
Tue 16 Mar 2027 Thu 18 Mar 2027 Virtual Autumn 2027 $967 Register
Mon 07 Jun 2027 Wed 09 Jun 2027 Virtual Winter 2027 $967 Register
Wed 30 Jun 2027 Fri 02 Jul 2027 Virtual Winter 2027 $967 Register
Tue 20 Jul 2027 Thu 22 Jul 2027 Virtual Winter 2027 $967 Register
Mon 06 Sep 2027 Wed 08 Sep 2027 Virtual Spring 2027 $967 Register
Wed 29 Sep 2027 Fri 01 Oct 2027 Virtual Spring 2027 $967 Register
Tue 19 Oct 2027 Thu 21 Oct 2027 Virtual Spring 2027 $967 Register
Mon 06 Dec 2027 Wed 08 Dec 2027 Virtual Summer 2027 $967 Register
Wed 29 Dec 2027 Fri 31 Dec 2027 Virtual Summer 2027 $967 Register
Tue 18 Jan 2028 Thu 20 Jan 2028 Virtual Summer 2027 $967 Register
On-Campus training — face-to-face sessions at our training venues across Africa and beyond.
Showing all 498 sessions across 26 venues
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Mon 03 Aug 2026 Wed 05 Aug 2026 Pretoria, South Africa Winter 2026 $1,447 Register
Mon 03 Aug 2026 Wed 05 Aug 2026 Mauritius Winter 2026 $3,148 Register
Tue 04 Aug 2026 Thu 06 Aug 2026 Cape Town, South Africa Winter 2026 $2,392 Register
Tue 04 Aug 2026 Thu 06 Aug 2026 Lagos, Nigeria Winter 2026 $3,796 Register
Wed 05 Aug 2026 Fri 07 Aug 2026 Dubai, UAE Winter 2026 $4,552 Register
In-House training — we bring the trainer to your organisation, tailored to your team.
Start End Delivery Season Price Action
Tue 15 Sep 2026 Thu 17 Sep 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,258 Register
Mon 05 Oct 2026 Wed 07 Oct 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,258 Register
Wed 28 Oct 2026 Fri 30 Oct 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,258 Register
Tue 15 Dec 2026 Thu 17 Dec 2026 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,258 Register
Mon 18 Jan 2027 Wed 20 Jan 2027 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,258 Register
Wed 24 Feb 2027 Fri 26 Feb 2027 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,258 Register
Tue 09 Mar 2027 Thu 11 Mar 2027 Your Premises Autumn 2027 $1,258 Register
Mon 15 Mar 2027 Wed 17 Mar 2027 Your Premises Autumn 2027 $1,258 Register
Wed 24 Mar 2027 Fri 26 Mar 2027 Your Premises Autumn 2027 $1,258 Register
Tue 15 Jun 2027 Thu 17 Jun 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,258 Register
Mon 05 Jul 2027 Wed 07 Jul 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,258 Register
Wed 28 Jul 2027 Fri 30 Jul 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,258 Register
Tue 14 Sep 2027 Thu 16 Sep 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,258 Register
Mon 04 Oct 2027 Wed 06 Oct 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,258 Register
Wed 27 Oct 2027 Fri 29 Oct 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,258 Register
Tue 14 Dec 2027 Thu 16 Dec 2027 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,258 Register
Mon 03 Jan 2028 Wed 05 Jan 2028 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,258 Register
Wed 26 Jan 2028 Fri 28 Jan 2028 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,258 Register
Training Discounts
Delegates Discount
5 3% off
10 6% off
15 9% off
20 12% off
25 15% off
30 18% off
50 30% off
75 35% off
100 40% off

3% off per 5 delegates, up to 40% for 100+

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