Creative Problem Solving
In the past few decades, psychologists and business people alike have discovered that successful problem solvers tend to use the same type of process to identify and implement the solutions to their problems. This process works for any kind of problem, large or small.
The Creative Problem Solving workshop will give participants an overview of the entire creative problem solving process, as well as key problem solving tools that they can use every day. Skills such as brainstorming, information gathering, analyzing data, and identifying resources will be covered throughout the workshop.
Course Outline
- Workshop Objectives
- What is a Problem?
- What is Creative Problem Solving?
- What are the Steps in the Creative Solving Process?
- Understanding Types of Information
- Identifying Key Questions
- Methods of Gathering Information
- Defining the Problem
- Determining Where the Problem Originated
- Defining the Present State and the Desired State
- Stating and Restating the Problem
- Analyzing the Problem
- Writing the Problem Statement
- Identifying Mental Blocks
- Removing Mental Blocks
- Stimulating Creativity
- Brainstorming Basics
- Brainwriting and Mind Mapping
- Duncker Diagrams
- The Morphological Matrix
- The Six Thinking Hats
- The Blink Method
- Developing Criteria
- Analyzing Wants and Needs
- Using Cost/Benefit Analysis
- Doing a Final Analysis
- Paired Comparison Analysis
- Analyzing Potential Problems
- Identifying Tasks
- Identifying Resources
- Implementing, Evaluating, and Adapting
- Planning the Follow-Up Meeting
- Celebrating Successes
- Identifying Improvements
- Words from the Wise
- Review of Parking Lot
- Lessons Learned
- Completion of Action Plans and Evaluations