Heuristics

From CEOpedia | Management online

Heuristics is set of methods improving the ability to make discoveries. The methods of this family stimulate creative thinking. In contrast to analytical methods bases on strict reasoning, in contrast heuristic methods prefer intuition, imagination and fantasies as the main sources of invention. The main heuristic methods include: brainstorming, Delphi method, Gordon synectics, morphological method

Trends in research of heuristics

  • I - classical - the study of processes of creative thinking (psychology)
  • II - development, codification and strategy of creative problem solving methods.
  • III - implementation of the "products" of creative thinking, putting innovations into practice (economics)

Heuristics in modern organization

In the modern organization, there are more and more qualitative problems requiring creative methods to solve. Creative problems - managers have to deal with them if and only if the previous knowledge and experience could not be used, and the status quo does not meet expectations.

  • problem as a difficult situation,
  • problem as a new situation,
  • problem as precarious situation.

In their resolution is critical synthesis, intuition and the subconscious. Creative problem-solving methods, based on intuitive thinking, often referred to as heuristic methods

See also:

Examples of Heuristics

  • Brainstorming: Brainstorming is a group problem-solving technique designed to generate a large number of ideas and solutions in a short period of time. It involves individuals or groups of people coming together and rapidly generating ideas, often through free association. For example, a group of engineers working on a new product design might use brainstorming to come up with a variety of potential solutions to a design problem.
  • Delphi Method: The Delphi Method is an iterative process used to gather opinions and insights from a group of experts in a structured manner. It is usually conducted in the form of a survey, where experts are asked to provide their opinion or knowledge on a specific topic. After each survey, the responses are analyzed and the experts are asked to revise their opinions or knowledge based on the results of the survey. This process is repeated until a consensus is reached. For example, a company may use the Delphi Method to obtain feedback from a panel of experts on a potential new product launch.
  • Gordon Synectics: Gordon Synectics is a creative problem-solving technique that seeks to generate creative solutions by combining elements from different contexts. It involves looking at a problem from different perspectives, using metaphors and analogies, and exploring the relationships between objects, ideas, and concepts. For example, a team may use Gordon Synectics to brainstorm a new marketing strategy by looking at the problem from the perspective of a customer, a competitor, or a different industry.
  • Morphological Method: The Morphological Method is a creative problem-solving technique that seeks to identify all potential solutions to a problem. It involves breaking down the problem into its component parts and examining the relationships between them. For example, a team may use the Morphological Method to develop a new product by breaking down the problem into its component parts such as design, materials, cost, and distribution.

Advantages of Heuristics

Heuristics offer many advantages over analytical methods. They include:

  • Increased creativity - Heuristics encourages creative thinking and allows for a more expansive exploration of potential solutions. This can lead to more innovative solutions and better problem-solving.
  • Improved collaboration - Heuristic methods facilitate conversation and collaboration between team members, which can help to create a more unified and successful team.
  • More efficient problem-solving - Heuristic methods often allow for a more rapid exploration of potential solutions, reducing the time and resources required to solve a problem.
  • Improved decision-making - Heuristic methods allow for a more comprehensive and thorough analysis of a problem, which can help to ensure that decisions are well-informed and grounded in evidence.

Limitations of Heuristics

Heuristics is a powerful tool to make discoveries, but it has its limitations. These limitations include:

  • Lack of accuracy: Heuristic methods are based on subjective observation and estimation, therefore they cannot guarantee absolute accuracy.
  • Limited applicability: Heuristic methods are suitable for a limited range of problems and cannot be applied to all cases.
  • Time-consuming: Heuristic methods often require time and resources to generate results.
  • Dependence on skills: Heuristic methods depend on the skill and experience of the users, therefore their effectiveness may vary.
  • Complexity: Heuristic methods can be complex and difficult to understand, making them difficult to use.

Other approaches related to Heuristics

Heuristics is a family of methods, which allows to improve the capability of making discoveries. The main heuristic methods include: brainstorming, Delphi method, Gordon synectics, morphological method. Other related approaches include:

  • Systematic Inventive Thinking (SIT) - a family of techniques that helps to generate creative solutions to a problem. It consists of five steps, including "identifying the functional elements of the system," "subtracting elements," "replacing elements," "combining elements" and "reversing elements."
  • TRIZ (Theory of Inventive Problem Solving) - a problem-solving, analysis and forecasting tool derived from the study of patterns of invention in the global patent literature. It is based on the idea that most technological systems follow predictable patterns of evolution.
  • Morphological Analysis - a method of problem solving that relies on analyzing the possible solutions to a problem in terms of their components and their relationships. It is based on the idea that all solutions to a problem can be broken down into a set of components and their relationships.
  • Design Thinking - an approach to problem-solving that involves looking at problems from multiple perspectives and combining creative and analytical approaches to find solutions. It focuses on understanding user needs and developing solutions that are both feasible and desirable.

In conclusion, Heuristics is a family of methods, which allows to improve the capability of making discoveries. The main heuristic methods include: brainstorming, Delphi method, Gordon synectics, morphological method. Other related approaches include: Systematic Inventive Thinking (SIT), TRIZ (Theory of Inventive Problem Solving), Morphological Analysis and Design Thinking.


Heuristics — recommended articles
Complex problem solving — Innovative thinking — Creation of knowledge — Knowledge — Creative thinking skills — Innovative research — Creative problem solving — Design thinking — Parallel thinking

References

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