Creative Thinking And Problem Solving

Question 0

How does creative thinking help you in a business?

Answer 0

1. Think of new business ideas
2. improve and existing product in a unique way
3. think of a better way to serve your customers
4. Attract new customers
5. Solve problems your customers might experience

Question 1

What is creative thinking?

Answer 1

The ability to think creatively and think of new and original ideas. For example thinking of new and original ways to solve problems

Question 2

How can you develop your creativity?

Answer 2

1.Think a lot.
Develop a habit of thinking about and questioning everything

2.Write it down
Get into a habit of writing all your ideas somewhere. If you do this , later you can revise , compare and combine your ideas together

3.Keep asking questions, about everything.

4.Break the rules
Do things differently to stimulate your thought process

5. Banish your fears, think of ways to make things work, think all new ideas out before dismissing them

Question 3

What are the research skills for recognizing a problem?

Answer 3

Quality control 
Sales report
Consumer feedback
Magazine and business newspapers
Monitoring your organization

Question 4

How are problem solving and decision interrelated?

Answer 4

Both are interrelated processes that any manager/ entrepreneur needs to do

Question 5

Problem solving is a process of?

Answer 5

Analyzing a system in a step by step way
Generating solutions
Implementing the solutions
Evaluating the results

Question 6

What is decision making?

Answer 6

Decision making is part of the problem solving process, it takes place at every step of problem solving

Question 7

What are the steps of the problem solving cycle?

Answer 7

Identify the problem
Define the problem 
Formulate a strategy for solving the problem
Allocate resources
Implement the strategy 
Monitor the problem solving
Evaluate the problem solving

Question 8

Identifying the problem?

Answer 8

Without knowing the problem , one cannot solve it. Identifying a problem is about asking the right questions so you have to talk to the people experiencing the problem. And find out more about what the issue is

Question 9

Defining the problem?

Answer 9

Give the problem a specific label , it is easier to fix if you know exactly what the problem is

Question 10

Formulating the strategy

Answer 10

Think of as many solutions as you can to the defined problem using problem solving techniques, keep in mind any limitations

Question 11

Allocating resources?

Answer 11

Plan carefully so that you do not interrupt the normal running of your company. Think of every detail before implementing a strategy. Resources can be anything from people to money.

Question 12

Implementing the strategy

Answer 12

Make sure the strategy is implemented properly so that it is successful.

Question 13

Monitoring the problem solving

Answer 13

Keep a careful watch on the problem solving process to see if the problem is really being solved, check that a lasting solution has been found

Question 14

Evaluate the problem solving process

Answer 14

Evaluate the process that you have just completed and check which steps need to be improved, evaluation should be a learning process

Question 15

Problem solving techniques: force field analysis

Answer 15

This technique is used when changing products, goods or services. This makes you think of all the negative and positive aspects of the idea…

1. Think of driving forces of idea
2. list the forces that are against the idea
3. weigh up pros and cons
4. consider how you strengthen pros and weaken cons

Question 16

Problem solving technique: chair technique?

Answer 16

Explain the problem aloud to an imaginary person sitting in a chair. This technique encourages clear thinking.

Question 17

Problem solving technique: empty chair technique

Answer 17

Talk to an empty chair about your grievances and frustrations.another person writes down the problems. Works on the principle that it is easier to voice tour grievances if there is “nobody” to hear you

Question 18

Problem solving technique: brainstorming?

Answer 18

Generates ideas quickly
Step one: write down all the thoughts about a problem and accept them all
Step two: now take the ideas and list the advantages and disadvantages
Step three: evaluate each idea and choose the best

Question 19

What are the important guidelines to remember while brainstorming?

Answer 19

Don’t criticism ideas on the first step
Don’t judge ideas until they have been evaluated
Accept all ideas
Generate as many ideas as possible
Remember that you can expand , develop of combine them

Question 20

Problem solving technique: Delphi technique

Answer 20

Involves confidential questionnaires to solve a problem
Step one: ask the group to make a questionnaire with 5 possible solutions to the problem
Step two: each member completes the questionnaire anonymously
Step three: results are analyzed in a central place
Step four:a copy of the results are given to the group members
Step five: ask group members to give revised solution

Question 21

Problem solving technique: nominal group technique

Answer 21

Encourages thinking because contributions are anonymous
Everybody in the group has an equal say
Step one: start with a clear open ended question
Step two: each person brainstorms solutions to the problem quietly
Step three: each person contributes an idea. Ideas are recorded.
Step four: each person votes anonymously for which solution they think is best

Question 22

Problem solving technique: forced combinations

Answer 22

Write down a number of related words on a piece of paper , put them in a hat and pick two out. Think of a solution that combines the two words

Question 23

Problem solving technique: what does SCAMPER stand for

Answer 23

Useful for improving products or thinking of ideas for new products, they follow these steps:

S- substitute
C- combine
A- adapt
M- modify 
P- put
E- eliminate 
R- reverse

Question 24

Problem solving technique: indigenous knowledge

Answer 24

Using the knowledge of the people of the particular country or region

Question 25

Problem solving technique: mind mapping, brainstorming, idea generation

Answer 25

Some people find it easier if they draw their thinking process
Idea generation is done in 3 steps
1. Make a list of existing concepts
2.make another list of how they can be changed
3. Apply the changes to the product or service

Question 26

Problem solving : lateral thinking (hat technique)

Answer 26

Everybody has a different colored hat with a different function
Solve  the problem and generate ideas from it being discussed from different points of views.
White hat- fact hat
Green hat- creativity 
Blue hat- leader
Yellow hat- positivity 
Red hat - emotion 
Purple hat - judgmental and critical

Question 27

Problem solving technique: sensory creativity

Answer 27

Works on the principle of brainstorming all the ideas that involve the senses