Conceptual Blockbusting A Guide to BETTER Ideas (John L. Adams) Chapter 7

Methods for Creative Problem-Solving: Great deal of knowledge acquired through observation and questioning. Questioning attitude is necessary to motivate conceptualization. Constructive Discontent ( Koberg & Bagnall The Universal Traveler ) Questioning Attitude Who What Why Whe n Where How

FLUENCY delivers information quickly and with expertise / low average time between successively generated ideas FLEXIBILITY the ability to adapt to different circumstances Methods for Creative Problem-Solving: Fluency & Flexibility of Thinking List Making =simplest, direct way to increase conceptualization

Morphologically Forced Connections Morphology Morphology: The size, shape, and structure of an item or one of its parts. Forced Connections Forced Connections: random combinations of alternatives catalogued under each product attribute. FOOLPROOF A FOOLPROOF invention-finding scheme WHY???? Inertia keeps an individual “inside the box” of personal perceptions and assumptions; forcing an individual to make random combinations looks at new potential solutions to solve a difficult problem

Bug List: Define specific small-scale needs. Consider... Inc. Magazine’s 10 Dumbest Products of /the-dumbest-products-of- 2007_pagen_2.html

Checklist: SCAMPER Substitute Combine Adapt Magnify Modify Put to other uses Eliminate Minify Rearrange/Reverse

Checklist: Manipulative Verbs  Add  Subtract  Multiply  Divide  Subdue  Separate  Unify  Distort  Rotate  Transpose  Flatten  Squeeze  Complement  Submerge  Freeze  Fluff up  Bypass  Lighten  Repeat  Thicken  Stretch  Extrude  Repel  Protect  Segregate  Integrate  Symbolize  Abstract  Dissect  Soften

For example: 1996 D388,664 design patent for a spork Hyde Ballard of Westtown, Pennsylvania filed an application to register "Spork" as a trademark around 1952 Spork" has been trademark registered by Plastico Limited (TM ) since 1975

“Universal Traveler” Koberg & Bagnall ACCEPTANCE ANALYSIS DEFINITION IDEATION IDEA SELECTION IMPLEMENTATION EVALUATION 7 STEP PROCESS