On 11 February 2026, two lecturers from the Faculty of Management (FOM) conducted a professional development training on Strategic Thinking & Decision Making for TM managerial staff at TM Digital Academy. The session was led by Dr Jack Ng Kok Wah and Dr Goh Han Hwa, aiming to strengthen participants’ strategic thinking and decision-making skills at the managerial level.
The programme began with interactive ice-breakers to encourage participation and teamwork. The training covered the key principles of strategic thinking, including looking beyond immediate solutions, anticipating future scenarios, and aligning decisions with long-term goals. Concepts from Erika Anderson on strategic choice and Simon Sinek’s “Start with the Why” were introduced to highlight the value of purpose-driven strategies in organisations.
Participants put theory into practice through case discussions and a scenario-based exercise called “Lucky Café,” where they explored competing priorities under limited resources. The activity illustrated the trade-offs and opportunity costs inherent in managerial decision-making.
The training also introduced the Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) framework, which helps managers evaluate options based on factors such as cost, reliability, risk, and long-term value. A vendor selection exercise allowed participants to apply the framework in a real-world context while considering governance and bias. Common decision-making biases, including cost fixation and the status quo bias, were discussed, along with strategies to make more objective and accountable decisions.
The programme concluded with reflections on key takeaways: effective decisions require clarity of purpose, disciplined trade-off analysis, and structured evaluation. While no decision is entirely risk-free, sound managerial decisions are those aligned with strategic priorities, supported by data, and defensible over time. The training was well received, helping TM managers strengthen their strategic thinking and leadership skills for real-world challenges.
