Paul Morris CIS144 Problem Solving Methodologies Osborn Checklist Paul Morris CIS144 Problem Solving Methodologies

Method Summary Start the flow of ideas by using the techniques of Vertical Thinking. In vertical thinking you build on the ideas already generated by free association.  For example, choose one of the ideas and ask some of the questions from Osborn's check list.  For example, how could I make it bigger or smaller? How could I rearrange the idea or substitute for part of the idea.  A complete checklist is shown on next slide.

The Checklist Adapt?....How can This (product, idea, plan, etc.) be used as is? What are other uses it could be adapted to? Modify?....Change the meaning, material, color, shape, odor, etc.? Magnify?....Add new ingredient? Make longer, stronger, thicker, higher, etc.? Minify?....Split up? Take something out? Make lighter, lower, shorter, etc.?

The Checklist (continued) Substitute?.....Who else, where else or what else? Other ingredient, material, or approach? Rearrange?....Interchange parts? Other patterns, layouts? Transpose cause and effect? Change positives to negatives? Reverse roles? Turn it backwards or upside down? Sort? Combine?....Combine parts, units, ideas? Blend? Compromise? Combine from different categories?

Try It Out Imagine that you have been given the task of designing safe playground equipment entirely out of old cars. How would you approach this problem creatively?

Checklist Creative Analysis Adapt: Take the hood off and use it as a toboggan in winter Modify Remove the engines and side panels and make go-carts Magnify: Over inflate the inner tubes from the tires and use them to create a "romper room"/jumping pit. Minify: Crush the cars into cubes and allow the kids to climb on the blocks

Checklist Creative Analysis Substitute: Use the car's seats in swings Rearrange: Turn the car upside down and use it as a teeter-totter Combine Use the side panels or roof to make a huge canopy or fort

Another Perspective Think about walking around on your knees; how would this change your perspective--that is, imagine the playground from a child's height. What was your favorite playground toy? How could this be mimicked with used auto parts? Example: from a child's viewpoint, the intact car would be an exciting change to pretend to be a "grown-up." Just take off the doors and remove other equipment (electrical, etc.) and let the kids pretend to drive. Just leave the car as it is!

Random Stimulation Random Stimulation is a technique which is especially useful if we are stuck or in a rut.  It is a way of generating totally different ideas than previously considered and can "jump start" the idea generation process and get it out of whatever current rut it may be in. Random Stimulation makes use of a random piece of information (perhaps a word culled from the dictionary or a book, or a random finger placement on one of the words in the newspaper.) This word is used to act as a trigger or switch to change the patterns of thought when a mental roadblock occurs.  The random word can be used to generate other words that can stimulate the flow of ideas. Example: Our finger fell on the word "document" in a newspaper.