CreativeAndInnovativeThinkingSkills.ppt

Problem Statement Write down more than one draft of the problem statement. Remember that defining the problem is almost a complete project in itself and you may benefit from going through iterative stages of convergence and divergence. Listen and write down everybodys opinion of what the problem really is. Find the points of agreement and then discuss the differences. Problem Statement Problem Statement Stating the problem may seem obvious, yet many creative efforts fail because the problem is either unclear or it is focused in the wrong place. The way you state a problem is half the problem and half the solution. Once you have identified a good problem statement, sometimes the solution is so obvious that you need little, if any, creative thought afterwards. Problem Statement Challenge Method Use it to force yourself or other people out of a thinking rut. Use it to test out ideas for validity. Use it to challenge the problem or situation you are considering when initially defining the problem. Challenge Method Select all or part of the problem domain that you are going to challenge. Perhaps it is something that has been particularly difficult to be creative around. Find something to challenge and question it deeply. You can challenge many things, including: Concepts - and broad ideas Assumptions - and beliefs that are not questioned Challenge Method Challenge Method Challenge Method Boundaries - across which you do not yet cross Impossible - things that are assumed cannot happen Cant be done - things that are assumed cannot be done Essentials - things that you assume cannot be disposed of Sacred cows - that cannot be challenged Challenge Method Challenge Method One way in which we deal with the complexity of the world is to make assumptions about many things. Our pattern-matching ability is a great help in allowing us to take short-cuts but it often ends up in us not noticing many things. If we do not take deliberate and conscious action, our subconscious will le