Creative problem solving

Creative thinking is a fresh perspective but also ability to find out unorthodox solutions about the topic. This term is not describing a kind of person but rather involves skills with results in camming up with useful ideas. In order to solve a problem in a creative way is required to start thinking outside the box, break down and reorganize our knowledge about the subject . It is problematic to compose unambiguous definition because this concept has many dimensions.

Creative problem solving process

Clarify

In this stage you clarify your vision and target, gather all needed information and refine the goal.An important move is to make a long list of challenge statements. This helps to identify wish statement, get and select all needed information and data and stimulate new thinking.

• What do you want to create?
• Why it is your challenge?
• Do you have any criteria to identify success?

Ideate

The purpose of going through this stage, is to generate ideas that answer the challenge questions. At this stage your brain is not concentrating on a problem but on the solution. Analysis of a problem and development of a solution can take days, months or even more.

• What ideas come to your mind?

Develop

On this stage of creative problem solving process, required is a list of solutions selected by level of potential. Evaluation Matrix is helpful to categorize when multiple solutions exist. Use success criteria to be specific. Choosing the best options and blending them leads to creation robust solution.

Implement Last stage is dedicated to formulating a plan. Creating an "assisters" list can support to make solutions real, making a "resisters" list helps with setting ways to overpass their pushback.

Focus on creating plan, arrange the right time and the right person to the action. Action plan helps you to assign short-time, mid-term, long term tasks, responsible person and deadlines.

Methods of creative thinking to solve problems

Brainstorming - This technique is focused on quantity of ideas. More ideas are making a higher chance for a creative solution. Few rules must be followed. Forbidden is to criticise the idea to not disturb the process. All idea are welcome - no bad ideas. The ideas should be generated in a short space of time. Next step is a selection of the best ideas, developing them and building on them new better ideas. The last stage is categorizing ideas and discussion which can be implemented.

Disney Creative Strategy - The main goal of this strategy is to get one stretching, realistic and robust solution. Each stage represents 1 thinker out of 3 different types of thinking - the dreamer, the realist and the critic. One problem is presented, every participant has 10 minutes to solve it out. The ideas are presented by dreamer - tends to be full of passion and enthusiasm Possibilities are analysed by realist - imaginary ideas are turned into a real action plan Critic focus on potential problems - In order to find weak points and the way to solve it As a result, the team provides a creative idea and an action plan.

Lateral thinking-The term was introduced by Edward De Bono who created two different models relevant to creativity thinking: parallel thinking and lateral thinking. Lateral thinking is a way of thinking that looks for a solution to a fixed matter through unconventional methods that would usually be ignored by logical thinking. It solves problems by a creative or indirect approach. Lateral thinking applies reasoning that may appear not obvious and includes ideas that cannot be gathered by employing only conventional logic. The examples of lateral thinking techniques are provocation, challenge and alternatives. Parallel thinking consist on considering over an issue in in parallel in the same direction in a group of people in a cooperative and coordinate way. Participants suggest as many claims as possible in many parallel tracks. They are not argued even if they are contradictory. In this way they explore a subject and all contributors share the knowledge, facts, and assumptions. The solution is designed from the parallel statements that have been laid out. Lateral and parallel thinking method shows that coming up with breakthrough ideas may come from systematic, deliberate process but the result is innovative thinking. Creative thinking is not considered as a talent but rather, a learnable skill.

Examples of Creative problem solving

• Design Thinking: Design thinking is a creative problem-solving process used to identify and solve complex problems. It is a process-driven approach that involves understanding people’s needs, exploring potential solutions, and testing prototypes to ensure the best possible solution is reached.
• Brainstorming: Brainstorming is a method of gathering ideas by inviting a group of people to come up with solutions to a problem or challenge. The core of brainstorming is to come up with as many ideas as possible without judgement and then to evaluate the best ones.
• Brainwriting: Brainwriting is a creative problem-solving technique that encourages teams to come up with creative solutions by combining multiple ideas. Brainwriting involves writing down ideas in an organized way, allowing each team member to contribute to the solution.
• Lateral Thinking: Lateral thinking is a problem-solving technique that involves looking at a problem from a different angle. It involves using unconventional and creative methods to solve complex problems.
• Systematic Inventive Thinking: Systematic Inventive Thinking (SIT) is a technique used to generate creative ideas. It involves breaking down a problem into its components and then recombining them in new and interesting ways.

Advantages of Creative problem solving

Creative problem solving offers a range of advantages, such as:

• It encourages innovative solutions to existing problems, which can lead to improved productivity and efficiency in the workplace.
• It allows you to think outside the box and come up with creative solutions that may not have been considered before.
• It encourages collaboration and teamwork, as different perspectives and ideas can be shared and discussed.
• It can help to build problem-solving skills and encourages a more proactive approach to problem solving.
• It can help to develop new perspectives and insights into problems, which can lead to new ideas and solutions.

Limitations of Creative problem solving

Creative problem solving is a powerful tool for achieving creative solutions to various issues, but it has certain limitations. These include:

• Difficulty in the process of brainstorming due to time constraints and lack of skilled personnel. It is difficult to come up with truly creative ideas in a short period of time, and it is even harder to find people with the skills required to participate in the brainstorming process.
• Limited resources and budget may also be an issue. Creative problem solving requires time and money to be able to come up with the best solution.
• It is also difficult to determine the success of the creative problem solving process. It is difficult to measure the effectiveness of the solution that was found, and therefore it is difficult to determine whether the process was successful or not.
• There is also the risk of coming up with an impractical solution. Creative problem solving may lead to solutions that are too complex or too costly to implement.
• Lastly, the process of creative problem solving may also be hindered by personal biases. People may come up with solutions based on their own beliefs and opinions, which may not be the most effective or practical solution.

Other approaches related to Creative problem solving

Creative problem solving involves many approaches and techniques, such as:

• Brainstorming - a group problem solving technique aimed to generate as many ideas as possible. It is based on the idea that a problem can be solved more effectively when many different solutions are created.
• Mind Mapping - this technique uses diagrams to represent ideas and relationships between them. All relevant aspects of the subject are linked together, making it easier to identify new ideas and solutions.
• Questioning - asking the right questions helps to identify the problem, understand it better and come up with solutions.
• Lateral Thinking - this approach involves the ability to look at a problem from a different perspective. It encourages the use of intuition and imagination to find solutions.

All of the mentioned techniques are important for creative problem solving, as they help to generate ideas, identify solutions and come up with new perspectives. By combining these approaches, it is possible to find a creative solution to almost any problem.

Creative problem solving — recommended articles

Model of creativity — Brainstorming — Creative thinking skills — Innovative thinking — Creative thinking techniques — Creative process — Affinity diagram — Integrative thinking — Why why analysis

References

• Tony Proctor, (2010), Creative Problem Solving for Managers:Developing skills for decision making and innovation , Third edition, Routledge Taylor&Francis Group LONDON AND NEW YORK
• Creative education foundation , (2015), Creative Problem Solving Tools & Techniques Resource Guide
• Bennie Anderson(2013) PROBLEM SOLVING, CREATIVE THINKING & DECISION-MAKING
• Lateral Thinking, PENGUIN BOOKS

Author: Aleksandra Godos