01
The right problem first
Clear problem statements and root causes keep teams from solving the wrong thing.
Camderson Academy · CA-LM-009
Decide with clarity. Solve the right problem.
A practical, self-paced course for leaders at every level. Sort your decisions, define problems clearly, find root causes, compare options, catch your own blind spots, hear every voice and pilot your decisions so you learn as you go.
About 4 hours · 9 lessons · Intermediate · For leaders at every level · Self-paced · Tools you keep
Good decisions come from good habits.
02
Better options, better choices
Several real alternatives, a weighted matrix and a premortem make choices easier to defend.
03
Decisions that stick
Named roles, a one-page record and a small pilot turn decisions into results.
Learning outcomes
What you will be able to do
Practical outcomes, each practiced in an exercise and checked in the final assessment or the capstone.
- Match the amount of process to the stakes and reversibility of a decision.
- Define a problem specifically and separate facts from opinions.
- Find root causes with five whys, a fishbone and a count chart.
- Generate and compare options with a weighted matrix and an impact and effort view.
- Notice common judgment shortcuts and use a premortem.
- Gather input, name a decider, record the decision and pilot it.
Your toolkit
Simple tools for every decision
Decision Triage
List · Stakes · Process · Review
Match process to stakes.
Problem Statement
Say · Sort · Data · Write
One sentence, no solution, no blame.
Cause Map
Why · Fishbone · Count · Choose
Move from symptoms to causes.
Options Sheet
List · Horizon · Test · Ask
Five or more real options.
Decision Matrix
Criteria · Weights · Ratings · Discuss
Score options with weights.
Bias Check
Anchor · Counts · Premortem · Change
Catch shortcuts and run a premortem.
Input Round
Who · Format · Hold back · Close the loop
Make it safe to disagree.
Decision Record
Roles · Decision · Risks · Review
One page to remember why.
Pilot Plan
Place · Measure · Predict · Decide
Test small, measure, then choose.
Triage. Define. Diagnose. Choose. Learn.
Curriculum
Inside the course
3 modules, 9 lessons with worked examples
01
Frame the Problem
Match process to stakes, define the problem and find its causes.
02
Weigh Options Well
Generate real alternatives, compare them and check your own thinking.
03
Decide, Act and Learn
Hear every voice, make the call and test it small.
What is included
Skills, tools and templates you keep and use in your work
- 9 lessons, each with a written lesson, worked examples and figures, at your own pace
- A short stand-alone example in every lesson, drawn from many kinds of workplaces
- A fillable Workbook with Try it and Reflect pages for every lesson
- Decision Templates (Word) for every teaching tool
- A practice tracker with live formulas, a solutions version and a reusable template
- Quick Reference Cards and the Practice Examples
- An optional visual companion PDF with every lesson figure
- Knowledge checks for every module and a 20-question final assessment
- A capstone you can build for your own team or from practice scenarios, with a rubric you use to check your own work
- Access to the Camderson Academy community
- A Camderson Academy Certificate of Completion when you pass the final assessment and the capstone
Is this course right for you?
This course is for you if
- You make or shape decisions at work
- You want clearer problem statements and better options
- You want a simple way to record and test decisions
It is not the right fit if
- You need legal or financial advice for a specific decision
- You want advanced statistics or modeling
- You are looking for training on one specific software tool
Your instructor
Meet your instructor
Taught by Camderson Advisory
A consulting firm for practical workplace skills
Your instructor is Camderson Advisory, a consulting firm that helps organizations build practical skills for the people who do the work. In this course, your instructor helps you frame problems clearly and make decisions your team can understand and act on.
About
About Camderson Academy
Camderson Academy is the education division of Camderson Advisory Services. Camderson helps leaders build organizations that work without them in the room. Everything we teach has been used in a real organization first.
Training a team?
We offer group enrollment for teams and whole organizations that want everyone, in every role and department, to build the same skills. Email connect@camderson.com to talk through your group.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need any experience or a previous course?
No. There is no prerequisite. If you make or influence decisions, you are ready.
Who is this course for?
Managers, team leads, owners and project leaders in any department. Examples come from many kinds of workplaces, and the methods fit offices, clinics, schools, nonprofits and businesses of every size.
How long do I have access?
Your access does not expire. We review the course on a regular cycle, and any updates are added for you at no extra cost.
How long does it take?
About 4 hours in total, including the written lessons, the Try it exercises, the knowledge checks, the final assessment and the capstone. Everything is self-paced.
Questions about your purchase?
Email support through academy.camderson.com.
What tools do I need?
A spreadsheet program that opens .xlsx files (Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, Apple Numbers or LibreOffice Calc), a word processor that opens .docx files and a PDF reader. All templates and practice files are included as downloads.
Do I have to use my own workplace for the capstone?
No. You can build your decision file for one of the practice scenarios in the Capstone Practice Brief included in the course. If you use your own workplace, use roles instead of names and leave out anything confidential.
Does the course recommend products or give professional advice?
No. It names no software and no product as the one to use. It is general education, not legal or financial advice. It teaches methods and points you to real sources.
What does the certificate confirm?
You receive a Camderson Academy Certificate of Completion after passing the final assessment and completing the capstone. This certificate confirms completion of a Camderson Academy course.
How was this course written and checked?
This course was written and edited by Camderson Advisory. Sources are listed with the date each was read. Where a source could not be opened on that date, the Sources page says so. This course teaches skills for everyday work. It is not legal, tax, financial, medical or professional advice. Laws and rules vary by place and change over time, so talk with your own attorney or qualified professional about your situation. Last updated: November 2026. Next planned review: November 2027.
Decide with clarity. Solve the right problem.
Self-paced, about 4 hours, with a Workbook, templates, Quick Reference Cards and a practice tracker.
This course earns a Camderson Academy Certificate of Completion. This certificate confirms completion of a Camderson Academy course. This course is general education about structured decision-making and problem-solving. It is not legal, financial, safety or HR advice, and it does not replace your organization's policies, governance or the advice of qualified professionals for high-stakes decisions. Research on decision-making has limits and results from one setting may not match yours, so treat the methods as aids to judgment, not formulas that decide for you. Examples, numbers and the organizations in the examples are fictional or illustrative. Camderson Academy is not affiliated with any organization named in the sources.