Complex Problems, Shared Solutions

Every school leader has faced it - that persistent academic challenge where a group of students just isn’t making the progress you want to see. The challenge that resists every well-intentioned “fix”.

Complex Problems, Shared Solutions offers a structured, research-informed process for tackling those enduring challenges. Using the Collaborative Complex Problem-Solving (CCPS) framework, you’ll learn how to identify, analyse, and address the root causes of complex issues to achieve meaningful, sustainable change.

Overview

This workshop equips school leaders with a deliberate and collaborative approach to inquiry and improvement. Through the five-stage CCPS process, participants work together to unpack persistent problems that affect student achievement, transforming surface-level symptoms into evidence-based solutions that last.

“Effective leadership behaviour fundamentally depends upon the leader’s ability to solve the kinds of complex social problems that arise in organisations.” — Mumford et al., 2000

What you’ll learn

 By the end of the workshop, you’ll be able to:

• clarify the problem and its underlying causes using a systematic inquiry process

• build trust and foster open, collaborative dialogue within your team

• move from assumptions to evidence-based solutions that improve equity and outcomes

• apply the five-stage CCPS framework in your own school context.

Who should attend

 This workshop is designed for school leaders who are ready to think deeply, lead collaboratively, and drive measurable improvement in teaching and learning.

Structure

Two half day workshops and two one-hour coaching sessions with up to three people at each coaching session.

Your investment

$650 + GST per person. A 10% discount applies for three or more educators from the same school or kura.

We require a minimum number of participants for each workshop to proceed. We’ll confirm viability with all registered participants ten business days beforehand.

Why now

Schools today face increasing complexity - from persistent achievement gaps to the need for equitable, system-wide change. Complex Problems, Shared Solutions gives leaders the structure, tools, and reflective space to navigate these challenges with clarity, confidence, and purpose.

Insights from Distinguished Professor Emeritus Viviane Robinson

 In this video, Professor Robinson explores the mindset and behaviours required for effective leadership. Her insights into courage, clarity, and collaborative inquiry form the foundation of the CCPS approach — guiding leaders to think systemically and act for long-term impact.

Register below