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Your online learning journey

Designed to sharpen your critical thinking skills.

Your online learning journey

Designed to sharpen your critical thinking skills.

Think like a scientist, excel as a manager

On IMD’s Complex Problem Solving program, you will acquire a powerful three-step process and tools for systematically framing, analyzing, and addressing your challenges.

You will develop evidence-based skills built from management, psychology, medicine, engineering, and design research,
learn to engage key stakeholders, and make informed decisions that lead to innovative solution

The program is structured into five units, covering the following topics:

Program overview
Unit 1: Introduction: Meet FrED
  • Start learning FrED, a three-step process to help you distill your complex problems to their essence.
  • Learn how to summarize complex analyses into a two-page problem-solving report.
  • Create – in a small group – a first hypothesis of what the solution to a strategic problem might be.
Unit 2: Frame: Understand your complex problem
  • Learn how to formally frame your problem using FrED.
  • Understand how cognitive biases influence your decision making and how to debias your choices.
  • Update your thinking on your solution hypothesis.
  • Work individually and in a small group to enhance your ability to ignite meaningful team discussions (units 2-5).
Unit 3: Explore: Update your thinking
  • Systematically map out potential solutions.
  • Clarify the critical criteria that matter to the decision stakeholders.
  • Update your thinking on your solution hypothesis.
Unit 4: Decide: Update your thinking
  • Assess each potential solution against the selected criteria.
  • Empower FrED, using existing strategic frameworks if applicable.
  • Update your thinking on your solution hypothesis.
Unit 5: Iterate and continue updating your thinking
  • Identify when generative AI can effectively assist your decision making.
  • Use probabilistic thinking to improve your effectiveness under deep uncertainty.
  • Initiate implementation, course correcting as needed.
  • Engage in the Group Challenge to tackle a high-stakes strategic problem under time pressure, just as you would in real life.

One-on-one coaching

Throughout your online learning, an experienced IMD executive coach provides personalized support tailored to your goals and context. Your coach challenges your thinking, helps you navigate implementation barriers, and ensures you extract maximum value from the program. Interactions take place via video, in writing, and over the phone—flexible to fit your schedule.

An online program participant having a coaching session via video - IMD Business School

Your expert coach helps you:

Navigate your specific challenges

Address the real obstacles you’re facing in your organization.

Translate concepts into action

Move from theory to practical application in your work.

Maximize your impact

Stay focused on outcomes that matter to your role and goals.

Maintain momentum

Keep progressing even when priorities compete for your attention.

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Power your learning with IMD’s AI Advisor

Personalized AI support integrated into your learning experience — guiding you as you set objectives, complete assignments, journal insights, and apply concepts to your work.

Smart support, available 24/7

Real-time feedback, reflection prompts, and guidance— tailored to your role and work situation.

100% aligned with your program

Prompts tied directly to your curriculum and connected through all modules, helping you create an integrated outcome by the end.

Two adaptive support modes

Step-by-step for structured support, Adaptive for high-level guidance.

Real outcomes, real impact

Guidance to develop actionable plans grounded in your reality and ready to implement immediately.