Creative Problem Solving Strategies

1
Creative Problem SolvingStrategies

• Prof. Ursula Liebsch

2
Workshop Objectives

• To develop awareness of the importance of
  creativity and innovation in a world of change.
• To know about creativity techniques and to
  practice them.
• To develop the own potential of creativity

3
Content

• 1. Introduction into Creativity and Intuition
• 2. Conditions for Creativity
• 3. Logic of Failure or Creativity Blockades
• 4. Step 1 Introduction into the Process of
  Creative Problem Solving
• 5. Step 2 Problem Analysis with
  Systematic-Analytic Techniques of Creativity
• 6. Step 3 Developing Ideas with Brain Intuitive
  Creativity Techniques

4
References

• De Bono, Edward Serious Creativity
• Ceserani, J. / Greatwood, P. Innovation and
  Creativity
• Dörner, Dietrich Logik des Misslingens
• Gelb, Michael Thinking for a Change
• Gelb, Michael Leonardo Principle
• Novak Schöpferisch mit System
• Siewert, Horst Kreativ-Training Marketing
• Schlicksupp, Helmut Ideenfindung
  

5
1. Creativity and Intuition

• What is creativity?
• Characteristics of creative people
• Phases of the creative process
• Requirements of the creative thinking process -
  convergent and divergent thinking

6
What is Creativity?

• Creativity is the skill to create new and useful
  ideas as a reaction to challenges, problems or
  needs.
• Creativity usually is a new combination of known
  knowledge.
• Creative thinking means getting away from
  inflexible structures of thinking.

7
What is meant by intuitive thinking?

• Intuitive thinking means to get an idea or
  understanding, without being able to explain how
  you have developed it.
• (Mental flash, example Archimedes in the bath
  tub or Newton under an apple tree)

8
Characteristics of Creative People

• Curiosity
• Energy
• Conflict and frustration tolerance
• Independence and non conformism
• Problem sensibility
• Flexibility and independence in thinking

• Self awareness
• Courage
• Preference for new things
• Orientation in the direction of solutions
• Open minded
• Joy of leaning and experimenting
• Humour
• Optimism

9
Phases of the Creative Process
Analytical Phase
Intuitive Phase
Evaluation
Decision and Implemetation
10
Phases of the creative Process

• 1. Analytical Phase
• To recognize the problem
• To identify with the problem
• To analyse the problem
• To look for solutions, mainly in the known area.

11
Phases of the Creative Process

• 2. Finding ideas in the unknown
• Getting away from the problem
• Unconscious work on the problem
• Intuitive understanding, mental flash
• Creating an idea from the idea
• Further development of the idea
• 3. Evaluation of the idea
• 4. Decision and planning of implementation

12
Requirements for the creative process

• Problem sensibility
• problem
  analysis
  
• Knowledge, flexibility
• finding
  ideas
• Critical judgement
• 
  evaluation
• Ability to carrying through
• 
  realisation
  

13
Creativity as a synthesis of

• divergent thinking
• free, without order
• fantastic
• illogical
• convergent thinking
• logical, systematic
• reality related

14
Information-processing
Consciousness
divergent
divergent
Censor
convergent
Pre-con- sciousness
Subconsciousness
15
2. Conditions for Creativity

• Fearless and supportive atmosphere
• Willingness of taking risks
• Creation of free space
• Open communication
• Motivation for creative achievements
• Introduction and use of creativity techniques

16
Atmosphere for Creativity
Total of energy for an individual or team
Energy available for task and success
Energy required for emotional survival
atmosphere
Threatening controversial neutral
cooperative supportive
17
Willingness of taking risks
high real risk low
Ostrich-bird-Strategy
Risk-lover
Creative and willing to experiment
Defensive strategy
low emotional/subjective risk
high
18
Creating free space

• Non-directed time
• Example M3 15 of the time for own projects

19
Motivation for creative achievements

• Rewarding new ideas
• Honouring
• Tolerance for risks and failure
• Putting aside enough time
• Distance from the daily routine business
• Integration of those who are responsible for
  implementation

20

3. Logic of failure or Creativity Blockades

• No visions, unclear objective
• Cold start (no preparation)
• No money
• No time, myths of too much work
• Excessive stress
• Fear of failure
• Believing not to be creative
• No motivation, negative attitude
• Ignorance and wrong hypotheses or assumptions
• No systemic thinking