Creative Problem Solving Basics: the technique Preface I wrote this article on creative problem solving (CPS) in 2010. However, not long after writing it, a growing unhappiness with the method as a creativity technique caused me to analyse the CPS methodology in detail, identify its flaws and devise a better approach. In 2011, I did that with anticonventional thinking (ACT). Nevertheless, a large number of creativity consultants and others swear by CPS. Creative Problem Solving (CPS) Basics Creative ideas do not suddenly appear in people's minds for no apparent reason. Albert Einstein, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Edison and other creative geniuses have always worked in the same way. This approach has been formalised as Creative Problem Solving (CPS). Although creative problem solving has been around as long as humans have been thinking creatively and solving problems, it was first formalised as a process by Alex Osborn, who invented traditional brainstorming, and Sidney Parnes. However, there are numerous different approaches to CPS.
SWOT analysis A SWOT analysis, with its four elements in a 2×2 matrix. A SWOT analysis (alternatively SWOT matrix) is a structured planning method used to evaluate the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats involved in a project or in a business venture. A SWOT analysis can be carried out for a product, place, industry or person. It involves specifying the objective of the business venture or project and identifying the internal and external factors that are favorable and unfavorable to achieve that objective. Some authors credit SWOT to Albert Humphrey, who led a convention at the Stanford Research Institute (now SRI International) in the 1960s and 1970s using data from Fortune 500 companies.[1][2] However, Humphrey himself does not claim the creation of SWOT, and the origins remain obscure. Identification of SWOTs is important because they can inform later steps in planning to achieve the objective. Matching and converting[edit] One way of utilizing SWOT is matching and converting.
Your innovative five year plan Preparing a Five Year Plan Many successful people achieve success because they set for themselves a few very clear goals and then strive to achieve them. Life goals provide a long term focus. A five year plan does not mean planning out every step you will take for the next half a decade. A five year plan should have some clear goals to strive for as well as steps you will need to take in order to achieve those goals. In this article, we will look at a five year plan for individuals. Where Are You Going? Different people focus on different aspects of their lives when making long term plans. Artistic Attitude Career Education Experience Family Financial Health Hobbies Material wealth Pleasure Professional Public service/Community Recognition Relationship(s) Travel Outrageous stuff Go through the list above and think about where you would like to be five years from now in respect to the aspect. In other aspects of life, think about people, older than you, whom you admire. Synergies
DO IT - A Simple Creativity Process - Creativity Techniques from MindTools A Simple Process for Creativity Follow this 4-step process. © iStockphoto/3dbrained DO IT is a process for creativity. Techniques outlined earlier in this chapter focus on specific aspects of creative thinking. These help you to get the best out of the creativity techniques. DO IT is an acronym that stands for: D – Define problem.O – Open mind and apply creative techniques.I – Identify best solution.T – Transform. These stages are explained in more detail below: 1. This section concentrates on analyzing the problem to ensure that the correct question is being asked. Check that you are tackling the problem, not the symptoms of the problem. 2. Once you know the problem that you want to solve, you are ready to start generating possible solutions. At this stage of DO IT we are not interested in evaluating ideas. You can use the whole battery of creativity techniques covered earlier in this section to search for possible solutions. 3. 4. Many very creative people fail at this stage. Key Points
Lesson 19 — Enhancing Creativity | Wisdom 101 Being deeply involved in creative activity is one of the most enjoyable experiences we human beings can have. What’s more, it allows us to put something back into the pot of life, to give something of value to others. For many people, though, creativity seems mysterious and out of reach — a gift given to some people and not to others. The truth is that it is not a rare gift, but a quite understandable process — one that any of us can use to enhance our enjoyment of life. Different writers have different views about what creativity is, and about how the creative process works. Some make distinctions between different kinds of creativity. One is production-related creativity: the production of something novel or unique that has value.The other is discovery-related creativity: the discovery, through human insight, of some new fact, law, or feature of the world. By production-related creativity I don’t mean just novel inventions and product designs, though that is part of it. Preparation.
Mind42.com - Collaborative mind mapping in your browser Wisdom 101 Methods list paper prototyping parallel design participatory evaluation patterns performance testing planning usability pleasure post release tesing prototyping questionnaires rapid prototyping remote testing requirements meeting scenarios of use stakeholder meeting standards: ISO 13407 storyboarding style guides subjective evaluation surveys task analysis usability testing use cases user satisfaction wizard of oz A new, effective approach to creativity: anticonventional thinking (ACT) with Jeffrey Paul Bamgartner