Creative Problem

Solving

Course objectives
Successful completion of this course will
increase your knowledge and ability to:
Identify roadblocks that prevent creative

thinking.
Develop a creative attitude and learn to
see every problem as an opportunity.
Rediscover your creative ability.

Course objectives
Focus and direct creative efforts.
Overcome criticism and gain acceptance

for new ideas.

Learn creative and effective techniques to
recognize and identify problems.
Explore techniques on how to manage
creative people.
Realize the significance of humor and how
it impacts creativity.
3

Creative
Problem Solving

Learning objectives
Successful completion of this chapter will
increase your knowledge and ability to:
Overcome ingrained beliefs.
Define creativity.
Identify myths and facts about creativity.
Assess barriers to creativity in your

workplace.

Imagination is more

important than
knowledge.
Albert Einstein

Which group is most

creative?
NASA engineers
First graders
Modern painters
Homemakers
Journalists

Auto mechanics
Architects
College students
Movie producers

Evaluate your answer

Age 40 2% creative
Age 30 2% creative
Age 25 2% creative
Age 17 10% creative
Age 5 over 90% creative

Which is it?
Creativity
The process of

generating
something new that
has value.
There are many
new ideas, but
some may not have
value.

Innovation
The process of

creating something
new.
It has significant
value to an
individual, group,
an organization,
society, or an
industry.
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Creative environment
The question isnt whether you want more
creative employees; youve already got
them. The real question is whether youre
going to recognize their creativity and
figure out how to use it better.
Stan Gryskiewicz,
The Center for Creative Leadership

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Step one

Draw a rectangle.

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Step two

Add two smaller rectangles at the top edges of

the big rectangle.

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Step three

Add lines as indicated.

13

Step four
Add triangle and lines as indicated.

14

Step five

Add curved lines as indicated.

15

Step six

Add lines as indicated.

16

Step seven

Add triangles and square.

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Step eight

Add circles and rectangles.

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Step nine

You drew a pirate ship!

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Myth busters
The Wright brothers were bike mechanics.

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The 15% Rule

Employees are
given 15% of
their work time
to pursue pet
projects and new
ideas.

Pet Project
Time

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Developing
Rough Ideas

22

Learning objectives
Successful completion of this chapter will
increase your knowledge and ability to:
Develop a clear plan for getting ideas

heard.
Navigate office politics.
Instill a creative and fun environment for
employees.

23

Seek an Idea Sponsor

Seek an alliance with a coworker or a

mentor.
They help refine ideas.
They help you get past gatekeepers.

24

Be an Idea Sponsor
Return the favor and act as a catalyst for
creativity:
Assume the best
Listen
Allow freedom to fail
Encourage creativity
Be consistent
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Fun, Fun, Fun!!

As the founders of Ben & Jerrys Ice Cream say,

If its not fun, why

do it?

Heyits worked for them!

26

Strengthening
Your Problem
Solving Skills

27

Learning objectives
Successful completion of this chapter will
increase your knowledge and ability to:
Define problem solving.
Focus your ideas into creative actions.
Apply the five actions that result in

creative problem solving.

Articulate how failure and risk taking are
at the core of innovation.
Determine your own creative style.
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Problem solving
Bridging the
gap between
where you
are
and where you
want to be.

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Creative actions
Problem
Failure
Opportunity
Pure creativity

ACTION

30

Every act of
creation
begins with
an act of
destruction.
Pablo Picasso

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The creative twist

A new invention
A problem solved
Improvements on

existing technology
Recovering
something positive
and productive from
a failure
Refocusing on a
new, productive
track

32

Be brave, take risks

View setbacks in a positive light.
Dont be a perfectionist.
Become comfortable with

ambiguity.

33

It pays off!

34

Enthusiasts
Enterprising
Venturesome
Persuasive
Natural leaders
Solve problems

through
discussion

35

Inquirers
Love new

information
Observant
Investigate
options
Solve problems
by applying new
information

36

Artists
Like to create new

ideas
Anti-status quo
Prefer flexibility
Create new
solutions to
problems

37

Traditionalists
Detail-oriented
Like numbers,

figures, and data

Like clarity
Prefer systematic
approaches
Solve problems by
maintaining the
status quo
38

Humanists
Enjoy helping

people
Skilled with words
Natural leaders
Give guidance to
others
Solve problems
through discussion

39

Pragmatists
Excellent

mechanical abilities
Like to be moving
and active
Enjoy work with
plants, animals, or
things
Use a hands-on
approach to
problem solving
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Making Creative
Ideas Practical

41

Learning objectives
Successful completion of this chapter will
increase your knowledge and ability to:
Determine a personalized technique for

getting into the optimal creative mood.

Explore different problem-solving
techniques.

42

Brain waves
The Alpha state is the most creative.

How do you get there?

43

Mind mapping
Weight Loss

Customized

Repeat
Automated

New Fitness Product

Customers

Exercise

Ease of Use

Schedule

44

Identifying
Potential
Solutions

45

Learning objectives
Successful completion of this chapter will
increase your knowledge and ability to:
Approach potential solutions to a problem

from many different angles.

Recognize and avoid groupthink in your
team.
Determine the merits of evaluation
techniques.
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Analogies
Business
Reorganizatio
n

47

Fishbone diagram
Competitor

Small Sales

Lack of

Actions

Force

Advertising

Poor Sales of a
New Product

Poor Product

Priced Too

Design

High

Late Release

48

Another fishbone diagram

49

Affinity diagram

50

Scatter diagrams

51

52

The Bay of Pigs

53

Perceptions

54

What do you see?

55

Is it coming or going?

56

Is it a duck?

57

Or is it a bunny?

58

Questions

59