Analytical Thinking and Evidence-Based Decision Making Training

Learning Outcomes

• Apply a range of analytical thinking techniques to break down complex problems into manageable components.
• Analyze data and evidence from multiple sources to inform decision-making processes.
• Evaluate the reliability and validity of evidence to ensure sound decision-making.
• Design evidence-based decision-making frameworks tailored to specific organisational contexts.
• Implement decisions using a structured approach that considers risks, benefits, and stakeholder impact.
• Demonstrate critical thinking and reflection to continuously improve decision-making practices.

Target Audience

This course is designed for managers, team leaders, analysts, and professionals who are required to make decisions that impact organisational performance and strategy.

Prerequisites

None — open enrollment. However, a basic understanding of business operations and data interpretation is beneficial.

Course Outline

Practicals

Overview

Practical sessions are essential for learners to apply analytical frameworks to real-world scenarios, use data analysis tools, and practice decision-making under realistic constraints. These hands-on activities reinforce theoretical concepts and build confidence in evidence-based reasoning.

Practical Activities

• Practical 1: Data Analysis with Spreadsheets — Learners work with a provided dataset to clean, analyse, and visualise data using spreadsheet software, applying descriptive statistics and basic charts. (5h)
• Practical 2: Root Cause Analysis Workshop — In groups, learners use the 5 Whys and Ishikawa diagrams to analyse a provided business problem and identify underlying causes. (4h)
• Practical 3: Decision Matrix and Cost-Benefit Analysis — Learners use decision matrices and cost-benefit analysis to evaluate multiple options for a given scenario and justify their recommendation. (4h)
• Practical 4: Scenario Planning and Risk Assessment — Learners develop scenarios for a future business environment and perform a risk assessment for each, using a risk matrix. (4h)
• Practical 5: Capstone Case Study Project — Learners work individually to analyse a comprehensive case study, applying multiple analytical techniques, and present their recommendation. (3h)

Summatives

Each delegate is assessed continuously throughout the course via daily exercises, scored practical assignments, and a final summative test at the end.

Practical Assignments — 30%

Practical assignments are observed and scored against a rubric during the practical sessions. Each delegate's practical mark is averaged into a single 100% score and contributes 30% to the final total.

Daily Exercises — 20%

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 20% to the final total.

Final Test — 50%

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 50% to the overall mark.

Final Total

Component	Out of	Weight
Practical Assignments (rubric-scored)	100%	30%
Daily Average (multiple choice)	100%	20%
Final Test (multi-answer multiple choice)	100%	50%
Final Total	—	100%

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

Certificate

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.