Creative Thinking

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Creative Thinking

• Cathy Criswell
• IMA Conference
• August 20, 2008

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What is creativity?

• Creativity is a process used by people for
  producing something, such as an idea, an
  invention, a painting, or a manuscript.

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Creativity is the ability to modify self-imposed
constraints. ---Ackoff and Vergara
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Imagination is more important than
knowledge ---Albert Einstein
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WHY IS CREATIVITY IMPORTANT?

• What are some activities at work where creativity
  can play an important role?

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"I think there is a world market for maybe five
computers." --Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM,
1943 "This 'telephone' has too many shortcomings
to be seriously considered as a means of
communication. The device is inherently of no
value to us."--Western Union internal memo,
1876 "Who the hell wants to hear actors
talk?"--H.M. Warner, Warner Brothers, 1927
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Three Elements of Creativity

• People
• Process
• Environment

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Are you naturally creative?
1. Do you prefer to work A. On a team B. By
yourself 2. When someone gives you an
assignment, do you prefer A. Specific
instructions B. Specific goal
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Are you naturally creative?
3. When shopping, do you read labels A. Yes B.
No 4. Do you daydream? A. Frequently B. Rarely
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Are you naturally creative?
5. When you meet someone, is it easier to A.
Remember the name B. Remember the face 6. At a
meeting, do you prefer A. A graphic slide
presentation B. A dynamic speaker
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Are you naturally creative?
7. After attending a movie, do you prefer A. To
talk to others about it B. To think it over
privately 8. When do you do your best work A.
Early in the morning B. Late in the afternoon or
evening
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Characteristics of the Creative Person

• An openness to experience
• Centered on internal evaluation
• The ability to toy with elements or concepts

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BLOCKS TO CREATIVITY

• Patterned thinking
• Conformity
• Resistance
• Negative Thinking
• Perception
• Fear

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Overcoming Blocks

• Be curious
• Be open to new ideas, people, places and things
• Try a new way, even if it is scary
• Master the creative process
• Share the process with others

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Concept Mapping

• On a blank sheet of paper, write a nucleus word
  in the center in a circle.
• Write words or concepts that flow from that word.
  
• Write quickly and circle each new word you think,
  flowing from the center.
• Write down ideas or vignettes the clusters make
  you think of.
• Use colors and pictures.

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Picture tickler

• Select a variety of pictures. In general, avoid
  pictures with people in them. The pictures
  should have a variety of actions, objects,
  colors, textures and other stimuli.
• Select a picture and describe it in detail. In
  particular, describe whatever action you see.
  The purpose is to stimulate ideas, not to achieve
  correctness.
• Look over all your descriptions and see which
  ones stimulate ideas.

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What if?

• Stretch your problem in as many ways as you can
  think of by asking, What if . . .? Assume
  anything is possible.
• Return to reality and examine each question,
  looking for a way to make the statement work.
• Record all your ideas.

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PMI

• Direct your attention toward each point
  separately in the order listed
• Should be done over a period of 2 or 3 minutes in
  all
• Should be used when you instantly have a strong
  opinion about an idea.

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Brainstorming

• Small groups
• Set ground rules
• Welcome all ideas and dont criticize them
• Set an idea quota
• Dont stop when theres a lull
• List all ideas

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Brainwriting

• Use form
• Move quickly
• Think 3 ideas and go

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Pass the Hat

• Break into several small groups.
• Each group writes a list of five problem
  attributes and places them in a hat.
• Each group picks up a hat with the list inside.
  The group then generates ideas from the attribute
  list.

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Concept Mapping

• Can also be used for groups

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Creative Thinking Process

• Divergent thinking involves generating many
  options
• Convergent thinking involves judging or choosing
  options and making decisions
• The truly creative person has the ability to
  synthesize thinking

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Steps in the Creative Process

• Define the problem
• Search for solutions
• Evaluate solutions
• Select solution
• Implement solution
• Evaluate results
• If necessary, re-evaluate problem and repeat
  steps above

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Synthesis - Roles

• Explorer stating an objective and searching for
  new information and resources
• Artist using various techniques to generate
  ideas from information gathered
• Judge evaluating the merits of an idea and
  deciding what to do
• Warrior carrying your idea into action

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Six Hats Thinking

• White hat (Blank sheet) Information reports,
  facts and figures (objective)
• Red hat (Fire) Intuition, opinion emotion,
  feelings (subjective)
• Yellow hat (Sun) Praise, positive aspects, why
  it will work (objective)
• Black hat (Judge's robe) Criticism, judgment,
  negative aspects, why will it not work?
  (objective)
• Green hat (Plant) Creativeness, alternatives,
  new approaches 'everything goes', idea
  generation provocations (speculative/creative)
• Blue hat (Sky) "Big Picture, overall process
  (overview)

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Ten Factors for Creative Environment

• Challenges
• Freedom
• Idea support
• Trust/Openness
• Dynamism/Liviness

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Ten Factors for Creative Environment

• Playfulness/Humor
• Debates
• Conflicts
• Risk-taking
• Idea time