Problem Solving in Business

In this two-week course, students will step into the world of business consulting and decision-making. Guided by Dartmouth faculty and industry practitioners, participants will learn how to analyze complex challenges, generate creative solutions, and communicate recommendations persuasively. Through case studies, simulations, and team projects, students will gain hands-on experience with frameworks used by top consulting firms and business leaders. Along the way, they’ll explore critical skills like critical thinking, collaboration, persuasive communication, and ethical reasoning. From diagnosing why a company is losing market share to designing a sustainability strategy, students will practice applying structured approaches to real-world problems.

By the end of the course, participants will not only better understand how businesses make decisions but also develop tools they can use in school, leadership roles, and future careers.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completing this course, students will be able to: 

1. Explain key frameworks and strategies for business problem-solving and decision-making.
2. Analyze case studies to identify challenges, root causes, and possible solutions.
3. Apply structured frameworks (e.g., SWOT, cost-benefit analysis, decision trees) to real or simulated business problems.
4. Collaborate effectively in teams to brainstorm, evaluate, and present solutions.
5. Communicate findings and recommendations persuasively through written, oral, and visual formats.
6. Evaluate the ethical and social dimensions of business decisions.

Tangible Outcomes

Capstone Presentation: Deliver a team presentation showcasing problem-solving and decision-making skills, with feedback from instructors and peers.

Hands-on Activities

Students will learn through a mix of interactive classroom sessions, group work, and experiential projects, including:

• Business Case Studies: Work through famous consulting cases and real-world examples to practice diagnostic and problem-solving skills.
• Framework Workshops: Learn and apply tools like root cause analysis, decision matrices, and design thinking.
• Decision-Making Simulations: Participate in role-play activities where students act as consultants advising a company, nonprofit, or startup.
• Team Consulting Project: Work in small groups to tackle a current business challenge, then present recommendations in a mock “boardroom pitch.”

Guest Speakers

Hear from Dartmouth alumni and local business leaders on how they make decisions in fast-paced industries.

Field Trips

Site Visit: Explore a local business, startup incubator, or Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business to see decision-making in action.

Information is subject to change as instructors finalize course content and syllabi.