TOPIC 4

Question 1

Divergent Thinking

Answer 1

• involves the generation of suggestions or solutions to tackle a specific problem
• encourages an imaginative and open-minded approach to explore as many options as possible by brainstorming
• this practice involves generating multiple concepts without any evaluation or judgement imposed on them

Question 2

Convergent Thinking

Answer 2

• choosing the best ideas by comparing them based on criteria like practicality and impact
• important for making decisions and solving problems creatively

Question 3

Combining both convergent and divergent thinking

Answer 3

• combining with divergent thinking is crucial for problem-solving (it generates many ideas)
• using both methods help in producing diverse ideas and then narrowing them down to make decisions
• it is important to use both approaches at different stages depending on the situation

Question 4

Divergent Thinking Guidelines

Answer 4

1) Defer judgement: to avoid judging ideas as either good or bad in the thinking phase, without it, general novel solutions become almost impossible
2) Combine and build: use one idea as a springboard for another
3) Seek wild ideas: thinking outside the box to create wild ideas
4) Go for quantity: take the time necessary to generate a long list of potential options

Question 5

Brainstorming

Answer 5

• write down challenge to visualize
• review divergent thinking guideleines
• set a quota of ideas and work till you meet
• gather and record specific ideas
• ideas stated in headline and written form so that everyone sees
• check with the group periodically (15 ideas) to see if it is going in the right direction
• proceed until it reaches quota

Question 6

Brainstorming - Stick ’Em Up

Answer 6

• start with the challenge
• sticky notes and a marker
• one idea per sticky note with no details
• call out idea
• keep listening to others and build up on ideas
• prioritise quantity

Question 7

Brainwriting

Answer 7

ask participants for the following:
- give brainwriting form
- write statement of challenge on them
- review divergent thinking guidelines
- think of three ideas and write it down (first row)
- exchange forms
- on the new form, ask to write three new ideas/build upon old ideas (second row)
- swap forms
- continue to swap until forms are full

Question 8

50 Aspirations

Answer 8

• individual timed exercise
• review divergent thinking guidelines
• 10 mins to write 50 diff goals, aspirations, challenges, problems or dreams
• after 10 mins, have everyone review their list and highlight with a star 5 goals that are important to them

Question 9

5 “W”s and an H

Answer 9

(Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How)