Creative Thinking And Problem Solving Flashcards
How does creative thinking help you in a business?
- Think of new business ideas
- improve and existing product in a unique way
- think of a better way to serve your customers
- Attract new customers
- Solve problems your customers might experience
What is creative thinking?
The ability to think creatively and think of new and original ideas. For example thinking of new and original ways to solve problems
How can you develop your creativity?
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
- Banish your fears, think of ways to make things work, think all new ideas out before dismissing them
What are the research skills for recognizing a problem?
Quality control Sales report Consumer feedback Magazine and business newspapers Monitoring your organization
How are problem solving and decision interrelated?
Both are interrelated processes that any manager/ entrepreneur needs to do
Problem solving is a process of?
Analyzing a system in a step by step way
Generating solutions
Implementing the solutions
Evaluating the results
What is decision making?
Decision making is part of the problem solving process, it takes place at every step of problem solving
What are the steps of the problem solving cycle?
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
Identifying the problem?
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
Defining the problem?
Give the problem a specific label , it is easier to fix if you know exactly what the problem is
Formulating the strategy
Think of as many solutions as you can to the defined problem using problem solving techniques, keep in mind any limitations
Allocating resources?
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.
Implementing the strategy
Make sure the strategy is implemented properly so that it is successful.
Monitoring the problem solving
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
Evaluate the problem solving process
Evaluate the process that you have just completed and check which steps need to be improved, evaluation should be a learning process
Problem solving techniques: force field analysis
This technique is used when changing products, goods or services. This makes you think of all the negative and positive aspects of the idea…
- Think of driving forces of idea
- list the forces that are against the idea
- weigh up pros and cons
- consider how you strengthen pros and weaken cons
Problem solving technique: chair technique?
Explain the problem aloud to an imaginary person sitting in a chair. This technique encourages clear thinking.
Problem solving technique: empty chair technique
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
Problem solving technique: brainstorming?
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
What are the important guidelines to remember while brainstorming?
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
Problem solving technique: Delphi technique
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
Problem solving technique: nominal group technique
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
Problem solving technique: forced combinations
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
Problem solving technique: what does SCAMPER stand for
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
Problem solving technique: indigenous knowledge
Using the knowledge of the people of the particular country or region
Problem solving technique: mind mapping, brainstorming, idea generation
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
Problem solving : lateral thinking (hat technique)
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
Problem solving technique: sensory creativity
Works on the principle of brainstorming all the ideas that involve the senses
