1 CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING

2 CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING PURPOSE: To develop the awareness and the skills necessary to solve problems creatively.

3 LEARNING OBJECTIVES 1. Define creative problem solving. 2. Be familiar with common mental blocks to creative thinking process. 3. Explore ways to be more creative. 4. Know the steps to the creative problem solving process. 5. Be familiar with: Brainstorming, Mind mapping and Multivoting 6. Apply tools to solve a problem.

4 CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING What is creative problem solving?

5 Some Additional Thoughts zThe creative person uses information to form new ideas. zThe real key to creative problem solving is what you do with the knowledge. zCreative problem solving requires an attitude that allows you to search for new ideas and use your knowledge and experience. zChange perspective and use knowledge to make the ordinary extraordinary and the usual commonplace.

6 DEFINITION Creative problem solving is -

7 DEFINITION “Creative problem solving is - looking at the same thing as everyone else and thinking something different.” Adapted from a famous quote from a former Nobel prize winner, Albert Szent-Gyorgi.

8 EXERCISE

9 A SOLUTION

10 LET’S TALK ABOUT: z Why don’t we think creatively more often? z What are the barriers that get in our way?

11 BARRIERS THAT GET IN OUR WAY z Time z Why change? z Usually don’t need to be creative z Habit z Routine z Haven’t been taught to be creative What are some other barriers that get in our way?

12 MENTAL BLOCKS Mental blocks are reasons (attitudes) why we don’t “think something different.”

13 MENTAL BLOCKS 1. The _______ answer. 2. That’s not _________. 3. __________ the rules. 4. Be ______________. 5. ________ is frivolous. 6. That’s not my _____. 7. ________ ambiguity. 8. Don’t be _________. 9. __________is wrong. 10. I’m not __________.

14 MENTAL BLOCK # 1 1.The right answer. Only one?

15 MENTAL BLOCK # 2 1.The right answer. 2.That’s not logical.

16 MENTAL BLOCK # 3 1.The right answer. 2.That’s not logical. 3.Follow the rules. Why rules should be challenged: z1. We make rules based on reasons that make a lot of sense. z2. We follow these rules. z3. Time passes, and things change. z4. The original reasons for the generation of these rules may no longer exist, but because the rules are still in place, we continue to follow them.

17 MENTAL BLOCK # 4 1.The right answer. 2.That’s not logical. 3.Follow the rules. 4.Be practical.

18 MENTAL BLOCK # 5 1.The right answer. 2.That’s not logical. 3.Follow the rules. 4.Be practical. 5.Play is frivolous. “When do you get your best ideas?”

19 MENTAL BLOCK # 6 6.That’s not my area.

20 MENTAL BLOCK # 7 6.That’s not my area. 7.Avoid ambiguity (Uncertainty). AMBIGUITY

21 MENTAL BLOCK # 8 6.That’s not my area. 7.Avoid ambiguity. 8.Don’t be foolish.

22 MENTAL BLOCK # 9 6.That’s not my area. 7.Avoid ambiguity. 8.Don’t be foolish. 9.To err is wrong.

23 MENTAL BLOCK # 10 6.That’s not my area. 7.Avoid ambiguity. 8.Don’t be foolish. 9.To err is wrong. 10.I’m not creative.

24 BEING MORE CREATIVE How can we be more creative? Jot down at least 3 ideas that come to your mind.

z Optimist International25

z Optimist International26

27 Golden Rules of Creative Thinking 1.Start small trying to discover new ways to be creative, ___________. 2.__________ to abandon the old, obsolete ways of doing things and explore new ways. 3.It is not possible to change the way we think about everything. ________ in which to try creative thinking techniques. 4.Understand that creative thinking requires __________, but it is worth it! 5.Remember that creative thinking is both _______ and__________!!!

28 Golden Rules of Creative Thinking (Continued) 6._________ on what you can reasonably do. Trying to do too many things at once compromises the effort and may take away from the results. 7._________creative thinking for today as well as tomorrow. 8.Include other people in the creative thinking process with you. __________fosters creative thinking. 9.Include _______ and ______ in your creative thinking process as well as ___________. 10.Keep ________________.

29 CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING PROCESS STEP 1. State what appears to be the problem. The real problem may not surface until facts have been gathered and analyzed. Therefore, start with what you assume to be the problem, that can later be confirmed or corrected.

30 CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING PROCESS STEP 2. Gather facts, feelings and opinions. zWhat happened? zWhere, when and how did it occur? zWhat is it’s size, scope, and severity? zWho and what is affected? zLikely to happen again? zNeed to be corrected? zMay need to assign priorities to critical elements.

31 CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING PROCESS STEP 3. Restate the problem. The real facts help make this possible, and provide supporting data. The actual problem may, or may not be the same as stated in Step 1.

32 CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING PROCESS STEP 4. Identify alternative solutions. Generate ideas. Do not eliminate any possible solutions until several have been discussed.

33 CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING PROCESS STEP 5. Evaluate alternatives. zWhich will provide the optimum solution? zWhat are the risks? zAre costs in keeping with the benefits? zWill the solution create new problems?

34 CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING PROCESS STEP 6. Implement the decision! zWho must be involved? zTo what extent? zHow, when and where? zWho will the decision impact? zWhat might go wrong? zHow will the results be reported and verified?

35 CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING PROCESS STEP 7. Evaluate the results. zTest the solution against the desired results. zMake revisions if necessary.

36 10 Questions To Encourage Ideas 1.What if…? 2.How can we improve…? 3.How will the Optimist Member and/or the community benefit? 4.Are we forgetting anything? 5.What’s the next step?

37 10 Questions To Encourage Ideas 6.What can we do better…? 7.What do you think about…? 8.What should we add? 9.What should we eliminate? 10.What other ideas do you have...?

38 TOOLS & TECHNIQUES BRAINSTORMING Purpose: To generate a large number of ideas in a short period of time.

39 BRAINSTORMING Rules for Brainstorming: y The more ideas the better! y No discussion y No idea is a bad idea y Build on one another’s ideas y Display all ideas

40 BRAINSTORMING EXERCISE Ideas: Freely record your ideas as they come to your mind. How Do We Motivate Our selves on EcoBusiness ?

41 1. Practice question: How Do We Motivate Our selves on EcoBusiness? 2. Clarify understanding. Once all the ideas have been generated (it may take approximately 5 to 6 minutes), review ideas offered. BRAINSTORMING GUIDELINES Remember Creative Thinking What did you mean by that?!!! Re-state the question to keep the process going

42 BRAINSTORMING GUIDELINES 3. Combine items that are similar and/or eliminate duplicates. 4. Completion. Let’s combine ideas!!! Are we done yet?

43 TOOLS & TECHNIQUES - MULTIVOTING zPurpose: To help a group of people make a decision with which they are comfortable. zDefinition: A way to vote to select the most important or popular items (alternatives) from a list.

44 MULTIVOTING Steps 1. Generate a list of items and number each item. 2. If two or more items seem similar, they may be combined. 3. If necessary, renumber the items. Multivoting List Revised List

45 MULTIVOTING Steps (Continued) 4. Write down the numbers of the items you feel are the major cause of the problem. 5. Share your votes by a show of hands. 6. Eliminate those items with the fewest votes. 7. Repeat steps 3 (renumber) through 6 on the list of remaining items. Continue this process until only a few items remain. If a clear favorite does not emerge, the group may discuss the items listed and make a choice.

46 MIND MAPPING zDefinition : A visual picture of a group of ideas, concepts or issues. zPurpose : y Unblock our thinking. y See an entire idea or several ideas on one sheet of paper. y See how ideas relate to one another. y Look at things in a new and different way. y Look at an idea in depth.

47 Mind Mapping Exercise z Over-sized blank sheet of paper. z Select word, phrase or problem statement to serve as a focus for discussion. z Print it in the middle of the paper. Enclose it in a box or oval. z Let a word pop out of your mind. Print it anywhere on the paper. z Underline it and connect the line with the problem statement (or key phrase or word) you are working. z Record the next idea and connect it to original focus point or the prior thought. z Continue printing and connecting words. 1. Initial Tumble of Ideas. Think freely!! Motivating Members Methods How

48 Mind Mapping Exercise EXAMPLE Resources People Motivating Members Helping Others Purpose Learning Results Fun Methods How

49 Mind Mapping Exercise - Helpful Hints  Keep your printing large and easy to read.  Feel free to use symbols and or pictures.  Have some fun using different colors. A 

50 COMPLETED MAP zDraw over clusters of similar thoughts that are associated with the main focus point. Have fun using a different color highlighter with each cluster of words. zHow do the variety of ideas relate to one another? zDo you notice any common causes of the problem? What are the most important causes? zYou are now ready to brainstorm solutions! Have Fun Drawing Your Own Mind Map!

51 APPLICATION OF LEARNING What Are The Three Greatest Problems / Opportunities EcoBusiness degree is Facing? i.e. “How do you motivate your club members?”