A Universal Approach to Creative Problem-Solving Diana Laboy-Rush

What is Problem-Solving? “ The world is full of problems” A Problem is: A situation in need of improvement A goal, intention, or desire A project or task An obstacle to be overcome Problem solving is a part of living. Without a process, one may become overwhelmed with options.

“ The world is full of problems”

A Problem is:

A situation in need of improvement

A goal, intention, or desire

A project or task

An obstacle to be overcome

Problem solving is a part of living.

Without a process, one may become overwhelmed with options.

What is Creative Problem-Solving? Creativity = uniqueness, innovation Creative problem-solving (CPS) ~ Design A sequence of actions that lead to a specific goal or product. An intentional, process with a purpose. To be effective, a problem solving process must be consistent AND flexible. Creative Problem-Solvers make living look easy.

Creativity = uniqueness, innovation

Creative problem-solving (CPS) ~ Design

A sequence of actions that lead to a specific goal or product.

An intentional, process with a purpose.

To be effective, a problem solving process must be consistent AND flexible.

Creative Problem-Solvers make living look easy.

Universal Stages of Creative Problem-Solving Acceptance Analysis Definition Ideation Selection Implementation Evaluation

Stage 1: Acceptance Getting started and staying involved. Absolutely necessary step; without it there is no motivation to continue the process. Methods for Accepting the Problem: Listing the benefits. Success at first! Give it up. By accepting the problem, you take responsibility, commit energies to the issue… and move on to next stage.

Getting started and staying involved.

Absolutely necessary step; without it there is no motivation to continue the process.

Methods for Accepting the Problem:

Listing the benefits.

Success at first!

Give it up.

By accepting the problem, you take responsibility, commit energies to the issue… and move on to next stage.

Stage 2: Analysis Gathering Information Often overlooked as an early or initial stage in the process. Methods of gathering information: Insight vs. Outsight Idea-Dump Any related knowledge at-a-glance. Quickly aware of what you don’t know, yet… Look it up! Under a Rock Goal: Research the topic, to become familiar with the problem.

Gathering Information

Often overlooked as an early or initial stage in the process.

Methods of gathering information:

Insight vs. Outsight

Idea-Dump

Any related knowledge at-a-glance.

Quickly aware of what you don’t know, yet…

Look it up!

Under a Rock

Goal: Research the topic, to become familiar with the problem.

Stage 3: Definition A single definition: good enough to live with for the length of project. Translation of findings from stage 2 into meaning and direction – I.e. Mission. Strategies for defining a problem: Paraphrased connections Priorities Recipes and Formulae Goal: To objectives and specify standards for success.

A single definition: good enough to live with for the length of project.

Translation of findings from stage 2 into meaning and direction – I.e. Mission.

Strategies for defining a problem:

Paraphrased connections

Priorities

Recipes and Formulae

Goal: To objectives and specify standards for success.

Stage 4: Ideation Brainstorming Ideas = options, alternatives Lots of ideas, better than just a few. Logically follows definition stage, but could change previous decisions. Methods for Ideation: Brainstorming: individually or group Lateral thinking Goal: Generate possibilities.

Brainstorming

Ideas = options, alternatives

Lots of ideas, better than just a few.

Logically follows definition stage, but could change previous decisions.

Methods for Ideation:

Brainstorming: individually or group

Lateral thinking

Goal: Generate possibilities.

Stage 5: Selection Matching what is possible with what is desired. If either is uncertain, this becomes difficult. Methods for choosing between options: Try them all Rank and weigh Potpourri method Goal: Determine the most likely path to success.

Matching what is possible with what is desired.

If either is uncertain, this becomes difficult.

Methods for choosing between options:

Try them all

Rank and weigh

Potpourri method

Goal: Determine the most likely path to success.

Stage 6: Implementation Fulfill the expectation (previously defined) with the best idea. Final test of the plan. Action; give physical form to the idea Strategies for implementation: Advocate for solution Performance specification Goal: To Go for it!

Fulfill the expectation (previously defined) with the best idea.

Final test of the plan.

Action; give physical form to the idea

Strategies for implementation:

Advocate for solution

Performance specification

Goal: To Go for it!

Stage 7: Evaluation Measure accomplishments against expectations. 3 areas to evaluate: Goals Achievements Plans for improvement Methods: Jury of peers Over period of time Goal: Qualify as a solution or return to selection stage.

Measure accomplishments against expectations.

3 areas to evaluate:

Goals

Achievements

Plans for improvement

Methods:

Jury of peers

Over period of time

Goal: Qualify as a solution or return to selection stage.

Benefits Creative Problem Solvers seem to bound over barriers. No limit of options. Creative Problem Solvers have a positive attitude With a consistent process, anything is possible. Creative Problem Solvers change the world. By bringing unique alternatives to life’s problems

Creative Problem Solvers seem to bound over barriers.

No limit of options.

Creative Problem Solvers have a positive attitude

With a consistent process, anything is possible.

Creative Problem Solvers change the world.

By bringing unique alternatives to life’s problems

Creative Problem Solving Universal Stages Stage 1: Commitment Stage 2: Analysis Stage 3: Definition Stage 4: Ideation Stage 5: Selection Stage 6: Implementation Stage 7: Evaluation

Universal Stages

Stage 1: Commitment

Stage 2: Analysis

Stage 3: Definition

Stage 4: Ideation

Stage 5: Selection

Stage 6: Implementation

Stage 7: Evaluation

References The Universal Traveler: a Soft-Systems Guide to Creativity, Problem-Solving, & the Process of Reaching Goals, by Don Koberg and Jim Bagnall The Care and Feeding of the Brain , by Jack Maguire The Thinker’s Toolkit , by Morgan D. Jones Aha, How to Free Your Creative Spirit , by Jordan Ayan

The Universal Traveler: a Soft-Systems Guide to Creativity, Problem-Solving, & the Process of Reaching Goals, by Don Koberg and Jim Bagnall

The Care and Feeding of the Brain , by Jack Maguire

The Thinker’s Toolkit , by Morgan D. Jones

Aha, How to Free Your Creative Spirit , by Jordan Ayan